Not just a 'tender of beasts' : Radagast's connection to Slavic Mythology

[THE Ka]

I found this very interesting article while looking up Slavic Mythology and my own geneological connections (But this isn't what this thread is really about, so back on to the topic...)

Anyways, I was, just for curiousity, looking at entries on Wikipedia of Slavic Mythology, which there really isn't alot of available and I was surprised to find the name 'Radagast' listed as a god. Very interesting!

Radagast, or also refered to as Radigost, Radegast, Radogost and other similar variations, is a Slavic god: the protector of travellers, traders and foreigners, and patron of hospitality.

If a householder does not take good care of his guests, turns away those seeking shelter or harms peacefully passing foreigners and salesmen, then Radigost punishes him. To good hosts Radigost gives a blessing: as they are compassionate to strangers, they will always find hospitality and accommodation when travelling.

Radigost's name is derived from the Old Slavonic raditi (take care, look after or consider) and gost (a guest, stranger, or foreigner).

There is a statue of Radigost on the top of mount Radhošť in the Czech Beskydy mountains. There is also a Czech beer named Radegast.

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This had me wondering... Is it possible that Tolkien knew any of this background information, or did his genius just create this character without knowing this connection?

What do you think?

~ Mythologist Ka

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

It seems likely that Tolkers knew about it. Interesting that, if he did know, he applied it to such a character as the tender of beasts.

[Encaitare]

It's a really interesting possibility, and perhaps Tolkien kept this figure in mind while creating the character. I checked the Encyclopedia of Arda, and it gave this description for the origins of his name:

In Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Christopher Tolkien indicates that his father intended to change this derivation and bring Radagast in line with the other wizard-names Gandalf and Saruman, by associating it with the old language of the Men of the Vales of Anduin. No alternative meaning is provided (indeed, Tolkien stated that the name was 'not now clearly interpretable'). One possible source (a somewhat unfounded conjecture) would be Old English rudugást, 'brown spirit' (rudu strictly means 'red' or 'red-brown' - it is the source of the modern word 'ruddy').

This etymology is not definite, but it seems to make sense. Maybe what happened was that Tolkien noticed the similarities between the two words rudugást and Radigost, and decided to combine their traits: the "brown" part from the Old English word (and brown implies a closeness with the earth like Radagast had) and the aspect of "tending" (although it's animals and birds Radagast looks after, not travelers and hosts).

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

Radagast, or also refered to as Radigost, Radegast, Radogost and other similar variations, is a Slavic god: the protector of travellers, traders and foreigners, and patron of hospitality.

It seems like Beorn must have known this, maybe he WOULD have turned 13 dwarves, a hobbit, and a wizard aside if he hadn't been concerned for what Radagast might do ... make his honey rotten or something.

But anyway, it sure explains what Radagast was doing in Wilderland, so near to the great road and Mirkwood.

Protecting travellers. From spiders? Maybe. From Dol Guldur? Maybe.

[Neurion]

Originally Posted by Keeper of Dol Guldur

It seems like Beorn must have known this, maybe he WOULD have turned 13 dwarves, a hobbit, and a wizard aside if he hadn't been concerned for what Radagast might do ... make his honey rotten or something.

But anyway, it sure explains what Radagast was doing in Wilderland, so near to the great road and Mirkwood.

Protecting travellers. From spiders? Maybe. From Dol Guldur? Maybe.

Interesting. Very interesting....

[THE Ka]

Wonderful connections! I'm really surpriced people would actually add to the thread...


I'm going to see if there is any more information in Slavic mythology about Radagast. I hope I find some more that can help, though there is a dreadfully low amount of information about Slavic myth...


~ Research Ka