Svantovit

   A Slavonic god of the island of Rügen in the Baltic. Saxo Grammaticus states that he had four heads on four necks with a bow in the left hand and a drinking horn in the right. Close by, in the sanctuary, were a bridle and saddle destined for the white horse of the god which the priest alone had the right to mount. No one but the priest could enter the sanctuary and, as with the Parsees, he had to hold his breath while sweeping it out. At the annual festival the quantity and condition of the wine which had been poured into the drinking horn at the previous festival was taken as an augury for the next harvest. From this it is assumed that on this occasion the sanctuary was open to all. An alternative spelling is Swietowit.