SLAVS IN THEIR ORIGINAL HOMELAND

The Slavic homeland was located in the marshy areas from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, where smaller or larger tribes lived. These strategic locations protected them from enemies, as they were attacked from all directions by nomadic tribes. These brutal raids posed a real threat to the peaceful Slavs, who primarily engaged in agriculture.

The painting depicts a Slavic village that is currently being attacked by a nomadic horde of raiders who are taking young people into slavery. The terrifying procession of raiders leads a herd of sheep. In the foreground are a man and a woman who survived the attack. Fear and dread radiate from their eyes. They feel hatred and a desire for revenge, but also a wish to live in peace and quiet. These feelings gradually take shape and rise to the stars. They embody in the figure of a priest - a Slavic shaman pleading with the gods for help. The young man in red, supporting his right arm, symbolizes war, while the girl in white on the other side of the figure symbolizes peace.

This painting serves as the introduction to the entire cycle as it shows what conditions the Slavs emerged from and what deeds they are capable of in the future.