ABSTRACT
The name Gerovit is usually interpreted as Yarovit, where the first component is the Slavic word yary—"fierce." However, identification of this god with Yarilo—a personification of male potency in Slavic folklore—is unsupported. Yarilo was mentioned for the first time at the end of the eighteenth century, and his image was clearly constructed on the basis of St. George, whom the Slavs called Yuri. Since Wolgast was Rani's continental foothold, Gerovit most likely was the local manifestation of St. Vitus, just like several other Rani gods, and his name means "Fierce Vitus," which is appropriate for the god of war. Ebo also identifies this god as a god of war: One of them named Dietricus seeing a golden shield fastened to the wall which had been dedicated to Gerovit the god of war, and which they considered it unlawful to touch, he seized the shield and went forth to meet them.
