Novak receives painting with mythical detail on it: Totem animal of Serbs, a symbol of disobedience

The world's best tennis player Novak Djokovic successfully started his campaign at the Paris Masters by defeating Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round.

This was Novak's first singles match after almost two months, in the wake of the defeat he suffered at the hands of Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final, as well as his fourth victory against Fucsovics in as many matches.

Before the match Novak received a gift in the form of a painting of him, that also contained a few interesting details. The painting depicts details from his trophy-raising career, the name of his daughter, Tara, as well as a wolf's head that's the only thing above Novak, and symbolizes disobedience.

"This is fantastic, I'll take it right away, if you wish," Novak told his fan.

The wolf is a totem animal of Serbians derived from the nation's mythology and represents freedom and disobedience, because it is the only animal that cannot be trained to perform in places like a circus.

Novak's wife Jelena Djokovic herself wore a t-shirt with the image of a wolf during the US Open.

The cult of the wolf in ancient Serbian culture

According to Veselin Cajkanovic, the wolf is the mythical ancestor of the Serbian people. Since Serbians have long worshiped (Slavic pagan deity) Dazhbog, it makes sense that this animal form is considered a Serbian totem.

With the arrival of Christianity, Saint Sava took over all the functions of Dazhbog, including his wolf characteristics. That is why Saint Sava (the first head of the Serbian Orthodox Church) is called the protector of wolves or, like Lesovik, "the shepherd of wolves." The belief in the wolf as our animal ancestor is manifested in many Serbian customs.

For example, when a child was born, the birth was traditionally announced in a village by the father shouting, "A she-wolf gave birth to a wolf!" The Serbian mother also reveals to her child their wolf origin by singing this nursery rhyme: "Sleep child, you wolf, a she-wolf gave birth to you in the hills."

Another custom shows that Serbians believe in their wolf origins. Serbians used to put their newborns through a wolf's jaw and thus would provide them with protection from evil, disease and demons. In that way, the divine ancestor of Serbians, Dazhbog, the lame wolf shepherd, would protect his descendants. The use of numerous wolf amulets had the same purpose, so parts of a wolf's body were often used to drive away evil forces.

(Telegraf.rs/source:tamoivde,wordpress.com)