Peryn, Archaeological site near Lake Ilmen, Veliky Novgorod, Russia.
Peryn is an archaeological complex located on a peninsula where Lake Ilmen and the Volkhov River meet, containing remains of ancient religious structures and artifacts. The site features a small church built in the 13th century on this historically significant ground.
The location was once the center of a pagan temple complex with ritual fire sites discovered through excavations beginning in 1951. With Christianization in the 10th century, a church was built, marking a shift in religious practices across the region.
The site is named after Perun, the Slavic thunder god, reflecting its ancient role as a sacred place for pagan worship. The Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, built centuries later, now stands where ritual activities once took place.
The site is located about 6 kilometers from Veliky Novgorod and became accessible by road after a dam was built in the 1960s. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and outdoor museum conditions, particularly in wet weather.
A wooden idol of the god Perun once stood at this exact location before being removed during Christianization, marking the region's religious transformation. Early excavation findings still reveal that ritual activities were primarily associated with oak wood fires.
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