At last Novgorod and Kieff were built; and the Russians, the descendants of these eastern Slavonians, naturally inherited the religion which must at one time, like the language, have been common to all the Slavonic races.

This religion, like that of all Aryan races, was founded on reverence paid to the forces of nature and to the spirits of the dead.

Their gods and goddesses represented the forces of nature.
Thus Lado and Lada, who are frequently mentioned in these ancient songs, are probably the sun-god, and the goddess of spring and of love, respectively.

Lado, also, is mentioned as the god of marriage, mirth, pleasure, and general happiness, to whom those about to marry offered sacrifices; and much the same is said of the goddess Lada.

Moreover, in the Russian folk-songs, _lado_ and _lada_ are used, respectively, for lover, bridegroom, husband, and for mistress, bride, wife; and _lad_, in Russian, signifies peace, union, harmony.