List of Lithuanian gods
Encyclopedia
The list of Lithuanian gods is reconstructed based on scarce written sources and late folklore
. Lithuania converted to Christianity
in 1387, but elements of the Lithuanian mythology
survived into the 19th century. Earliest written sources, authored by foreigners and Christians, only briefly mention the Lithuanian gods. Beginning in the 16th century, the pagan religion received more attention from authors, but often their accounts were confused, contradictory, and heavily influenced by various religious agendas. Collection and recording of folklore began in the 19th century. By that time the pagan mythology became fragmented and mixed with Christian traditions. The cults of old deities transformed into folklore (individual tales, myths, songs, etc.) without associated rituals. Because of such difficulties obtaining data, there is no accepted list of Lithuanian gods. Different authors present wildly contradictory reconstructions of Lithuanian pantheon.
, and fairy-tales.
secretly after baptizing. Russian chronicles are considered the best source of information about ancient Lithuanian pantheon worshiped by feodals and military.
in his Latin introduction to Catechismusa Prasty Szadei (1547) urged the people to abandon their pagan ways and mentioned the following gods:
(1547–1593) was a Polish–Lithuanian historian and author of Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all Russia. In this work, Stryjkowski provided two lists of gods, one Old Prussian and another Lithuanian. He listed 16 Lithuanian gods:
(Lasicius) was a Polish Protestant activist. He wrote a treatise on idolatry
About gods of Samogitians, other Sarmatians, and false Christians (De diis Samagitarum caeterorumque Sarmatarum et falsorum Christianorum, written ca. 1582 and published in 1615). This 18-page treatise contained a lists of 76 Lithuanian gods with brief description of their functions. Łasicki obtained most of his information from Łaszkowski, a Polish lesser noble
who worked as a royal land surveyor. The list contained very minor deities, representing everyday household items. Łasicki was also not intimately familiar with Lithuanian culture or language. Therefore, the academic opinion on the list ranges from a valuable resource to a practical joke designed to poke fun of Christian saints through an inverted mirror. Deities mentioned by Jan Łasicki were:
(1635–1704) were:
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. Lithuania converted to Christianity
Christianization of Lithuania
The Christianization of Lithuania – Christianization of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that took place in 1387, initiated by the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila and his cousin Vytautas, that signified the official adoption of Christianity by Lithuanians, one of the last pagan...
in 1387, but elements of the Lithuanian mythology
Lithuanian mythology
Lithuanian mythology is an example of Baltic mythology, developed by Lithuanians throughout the centuries.-History of scholarship:Surviving information about Baltic paganism in general is very sketchy and incomplete. As with most ancient Indo-European cultures Lithuanian mythology is an example of...
survived into the 19th century. Earliest written sources, authored by foreigners and Christians, only briefly mention the Lithuanian gods. Beginning in the 16th century, the pagan religion received more attention from authors, but often their accounts were confused, contradictory, and heavily influenced by various religious agendas. Collection and recording of folklore began in the 19th century. By that time the pagan mythology became fragmented and mixed with Christian traditions. The cults of old deities transformed into folklore (individual tales, myths, songs, etc.) without associated rituals. Because of such difficulties obtaining data, there is no accepted list of Lithuanian gods. Different authors present wildly contradictory reconstructions of Lithuanian pantheon.
Names from folklore myths and legends
This section includes the names of gods, divine or demonic beings, and other personages from Lithuanian myths, legends, folkloreFolklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, and fairy-tales.
Gods and god-like beings
- Dievas, the Chief God (whose name was possibly cognate with the Hindu Dyaus and Greek Zeus).
- Dievas Senelis ("God Old Man"), a manifestation of God. According some reconstructions, that do not recognize manifestations of God in the primary Lithuanian mythology, he was a separate deity, a teacher of people and judge of their morality. He looks like an old traveling beggar. Dievas Senelis is proficient at magic and medicine.
- Praamžius, an epithetEpithetAn epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
of God. - AušrinėAušrineAušrinė is a feminine deity of the Morning Star in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the antipode to Vakarinė, the Evening Star. Her cult possibly stems from the Proto-Indo-European religion and is related to Latvian Auseklis, Greek Eos, Roman Aurora, and Vedic Ushas. Aušrinė is the goddess of...
, the Morning Star, a goddess, a daughter of the God ("dievaitė"). She was the goddess of the morning. Aušrinė has many similarities with Vedic UshasUshasUshas , Sanskrit for "dawn", is a Vedic deity, and consequently a Hindu deity as well.Sanskrit is an s-stem, i.e. the genitive case is . It is from PIE , cognate to Greek Eos and Latin Aurora....
, the GreekGreek mythologyGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
goddess EosEosIn Greek mythology, Eos is the Titan goddess of the dawn, who rose from her home at the edge of Oceanus, the ocean that surrounds the world, to herald her brother Helios, the Sun.- Greek literature :...
, and the RomanRoman mythologyRoman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
goddess AuroraAurora (mythology)Aurora is the Latin word for dawn, the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology and Latin poetry.Like Greek Eos and Rigvedic Ushas , Aurora continues the name of an earlier Indo-European dawn goddess, *Hausos....
. Alternatively her name is given as Aušra ("dawn"). - DaliaDalia (mythology)Dalia is the goddess of fate in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the giver and taker of goods and property. Dalia is often confused with and hard to distinguish from Laima, another goddess of fate. Sometimes Dalia is thought of as a different manifestation of Laima...
, goddess of fate and weaving. - GabijaGabijaGabija is the goddess of fire and hearth in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the protector of home and family, provider of happiness and fertility. Her name is derived from gaubti or from St. Agatha...
, the foster of the Holy Fire, a goddess, a daughter of the God ("dievaitė"). - LaimaLaimaLaima was the personification of fate and luck in the Latvian and Lithuanian mythologies. She was associated with childbirth, marriage, and death; she was also the patron of pregnant women...
, goddess of Fate and Luck (Laxmi in Hinduism). - Mėnuo, the Moon, a son of God ("dievaitis").
- PerkūnasPerkunasPerkūnas was the common Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky.-Etymology:...
, the Thunder, a son of God ("dievaitis") (Parjanya in Hinduism). - Saulė, the Sun (Surya in Hinduism).
- AšvieniaiAšvieniaiAšvieniai are divine twins in the Lithuanian mythology identical to Latvian Dieva deli and direct counterparts of Vedic Ashvins. The both names derive from the same Proto-Indo-European root for the horse - *ek'w-. Old Lithuanian ašva and Sanskrit ashva mean "horse". Ašvieniai are represented as...
, the divine twins who pulled the chariot of the Sun (the Vedic Ashwins or the Greek Dioskouri). - Vakarinė, god of the Evening Star.
- ŽemynaŽemynaŽemyna is the goddess of the earth in Lithuanian mythology. She is usually regarded as mother goddess and one of the chief Lithuanian gods similar to Latvian Zemes māte. Žemyna personifies the fertile earth and nourishes all life on earth, human, plant, and animal. All that is born of earth will...
, goddess, the deified soil (Zamin in Persian and Hindi for "land"). - Deivės Valdytojos (Lithuanian: Governing Goddesses), were the goddesses who made garments from human's lives. They were seven sisters: Verpiančioji (who spun the threads of life), Metančioji (who threw rims of life), Audėja (the weaver), Gadintoja (who broke the thread), Sergėtoja (who scolded Gadintoja, and instigated war between people), Nukirpėja (who cut the cloth of life), and Išskalbėja (the laundress). They have similarities with the GreekGreek mythologyGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
FatesMoiraeThe Moirae, Moerae or Moirai , in Greek mythology, were the white-robed incarnations of destiny . Their number became fixed at three...
and the NorseNorse mythologyNorse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
NornsNornsThe Norns in Norse mythology are female beings who rule the destiny of gods and men, a kind of dísir comparable to the Fates in classical mythology....
. Deivės Valdytojos were associated with DaliaDalia (mythology)Dalia is the goddess of fate in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the giver and taker of goods and property. Dalia is often confused with and hard to distinguish from Laima, another goddess of fate. Sometimes Dalia is thought of as a different manifestation of Laima...
and LaimaLaimaLaima was the personification of fate and luck in the Latvian and Lithuanian mythologies. She was associated with childbirth, marriage, and death; she was also the patron of pregnant women...
. - Žvaigždės (žvaigždė, in singularGrammatical numberIn linguistics, grammatical number is a grammatical category of nouns, pronouns, and adjective and verb agreement that expresses count distinctions ....
), stars, having the Sun as their mother and, sometimes, the MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
as their father. One of the most important stars is AušrinėAušrineAušrinė is a feminine deity of the Morning Star in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the antipode to Vakarinė, the Evening Star. Her cult possibly stems from the Proto-Indo-European religion and is related to Latvian Auseklis, Greek Eos, Roman Aurora, and Vedic Ushas. Aušrinė is the goddess of...
. Other stars, Aušrinė's sisters, are less important, but they, like Vakarinė or Vakarė (the evening Venus, who makes the bed for Saulė, the sun), Indraja (Jupiter; Indra in Hinduism), Sėlija (Saturn), Žiezdrė (Mars) and Vaivora (Mercury), sometimes appear in mythic stories too.
Heroes and heroines
- Pajauta, the legendary princess of KernavėKernaveKernavė was a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and today is a tourist attraction and an archeological site . It is located in the Širvintos district municipality located in southeast Lithuania...
- Jūratė and KastytisJurate and KastytisJūratė and Kastytis is one of the most famous and popular Lithuanian legends and tales. For the first time it was recorded in 1842 in the writings of Liudvikas Adomas Jucevičius. Since then it has been adapted many times for modern poems, ballets, and even rock operas...
are heroes of a Lithuanian legend, which subsequently became popular, mostly because of its modern poetic interpretation by MaironisMaironisMaironis is one of the most famous Lithuanian romantic poets. He was born in Pasandravys, Raseiniai district municipality, Lithuania. Maironis graduated from Kaunas high school and went on to study Literature at Kiev University. However, in 1884, after one year of studies at the university, he...
. The queen of the amber palace Jūratė may be considered a manifestation of the goddess of Sea in this legend.
Local and nature spirits
- Ežerinis, a spirit of lakes
- Upinis, a spirit of rivers
- Auštaras (Auštra), the god of the northeast wind, who stands at the gates of paradiseParadiseParadise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
and lights the way for those going to paradise. His function of shining this beacon makes him similar to AušrinėAušrineAušrinė is a feminine deity of the Morning Star in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the antipode to Vakarinė, the Evening Star. Her cult possibly stems from the Proto-Indo-European religion and is related to Latvian Auseklis, Greek Eos, Roman Aurora, and Vedic Ushas. Aušrinė is the goddess of...
; some consider him to be her cousin. - BangpūtysBangputysBangpūtys is the name of a masculine deity in Lithuanian mythology. Basing on very scanty sources, some mythologists have reconstructed him as a god of sea and storm. According to the reconstructions, he is austere and unrelenting. He has a beard, wings and two faces...
, the god of the seas and storms - Javinė, a household god who protects grainCerealCereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
in barns. - Jievaras, a household spirit who protects grain. Sacrifices to Jievaras are made after the ryeRyeRye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
harvest. While cutting grain, women would leave a few grain tufts uncut, which would later be braided into plaits. They would also leave some bread and saltBread and saltBread and salt is a Slavic welcome greeting ceremony.The tradition, known by its local Slavic names , was also adopted by two non-Slavic nations — Lithuanians and Romanians — both of which culturally and historically close to their Slavic neighbours .When important, respected, or admired guests...
under the plait, and would say: Davei manei, Žemele, duodame ir tau ([You] gave for us, Mother Earth, we are giving for you too), a request for the land to continue to be fruitful. - Kupolė, the spirit of springtime vegetation and flowers. The Festival of Kupolė (Kupolinės) was associated with Feast of St. John the Baptist (Joninės). In this festival, women picked sacral herbs, danced and sang songs. Kupolinės is also known as Rasos. Compare this with Ziedu māteMahteIn Latvian mythology, Māte , sometimes written in English as Mahte, was an epithet applied to some sixty-seventy goddesses. They were clearly distinct goddesses in most or all cases, so the term definitely referred to the mother-goddess of specific phenomena.Alternative: Mate#Bangu mate#Cela...
in Latvian mythologyLatvian mythologyLatvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European cultures. Much of its symbolism is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life...
, KupalaKupalaPolish Noc Świętojańska or Sobótka Russian, Ukrainian Ніч на Купала or Купало/Купайло and Belarusian Купала may mean the traditional fest or the name of a putative god...
in Polish mythologyPolish mythologyPolish mythology comprises beliefs and myths of ancient Poland, including witchcraft and elements of Paganism.An early Polish settlement featuring an allocated place of pagan worship, which is located near the ancient complex of Poganowo not far from the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, was...
and Ivan KupalaIvan KupalaIvan Kupala can refer to:*Ivan Kupala *Ivan Kupala Day...
in Russian mythology - Laukų dvasios (spirits of fields), spirits, who were running through the fields. When crops in the fields waved in the wind, people saw them as being the actions of spirits. Laukų dvasios include Nuogalis, Kiškis (hare), Meška (bear), Lapė (fox), Katinas (tomcat), Bubis, Bubas, Bubė, Baubas, Babaužis, Bobas, Maumas (bugaboo), Raudongalvis (red-headed), Raudongerklis (red-throated), Žaliaakis (green-eyed), Paplėštakis, Guda, Dizikas, Smauglys (boa), Ruginis (spirit of rye), Papiokė, Pypalas, Žebris, Arklys (horse), Vilkas (wolf).
Various lower beings
- Kaukas, spirits similar to trollTrollA troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
s. - Laumė, a fairy like female creature (pixiePixiePixies are mythical creatures of folklore, considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas around Devon and Cornwall, suggesting some Celtic origin for the belief and name.They are usually depicted with pointed ears, and often wearing a green outfit and pointed...
s). Described as white, and blue as the sky itself. Good spirit, very friendly with the Earth and Nature gods. However, if anyone tried to use them, the punishment was grave. - Nykštukas, gnomeGnomeA gnome is a diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature...
s. - Vėlės, spiritSpiritThe English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s of dead human beings.
Demonic beings
- AitvarasAitvarasAitvaras is a household spirit in Lithuanian mythology. Other names are Kaukas, Pūkis, Damavykas, Sparyžius, Koklikas, Gausinėlis, Žaltvikšas, and Spirukas. Aitvaras is identical to the Latvian Pūkis. An Aitvaras looks like a white or black rooster with a fiery tail . An Aitvaras may hatch from an...
, a household spirit bringing both good and bad luck - Baubas, an evil spirit with long lean arms, wrinkly fingers, and red eyes. He harasses people and tears their hair or stifles them. To children, he is the equivalent of the boogeyman of the English-speaking countries. A misbehaving child could be told by the parents: "Behave, or baubas will come and get you". Also it could be described as a black and dark creature living under the carpet or in some dark spot of the house.
- Giltinė – goddess of death, also The Reaper. Other names include Kaulinyčia, Maras (black deathBlack DeathThe Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
or the Plague), Maro mergos, Kolera, Pavietrė, Kapinių žmogus. Her sacral bird is the owl. Sometimes she was considered to be a sister of LaimaLaimaLaima was the personification of fate and luck in the Latvian and Lithuanian mythologies. She was associated with childbirth, marriage, and death; she was also the patron of pregnant women...
(luck). - Ragana, is an old looking female, or witch. Mostly has dark intentions and powers to control forces of nature. They probably were old ladies living by the forest, having a good knowledge of plants and their use for medical and other purposes.
- Slogutis, means pain, misery or nightmare. Also can mean fear or bad feelings.
- Velnias, devil, not the pure evil being of Christianity, but a trickster. Earlier - dweller or even god of bogs and marshes.
- Žiburinis, a scary forest spirit that appears as a phosphorescent skeleton.
Holy places and things
- Dausos or Dangus, the home of good souls. Dausos is on a high mountain (LatvianLatvian mythologyLatvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European cultures. Much of its symbolism is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life...
Debeskalns, or NorseNorse mythologyNorse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
ValhallaValhallaIn Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
), between two rivers. There are golden apple-trees in the Dausos garden. Day in the garden is perpetual but outside its confines is perpetual night. Master of Dausos is Vėjopatis (Lord of the wind) or Vėjas (Wind) who is also one of the oldest gods in Lithuanian mythology. Vėjas is identical to VayuVayuVāyu is a primary Hindu deity, the Lord of the winds, the father of Bhima and the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman...
of HinduismHinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. Auštaras and Vėjopatis are keepers of Dausos’s gates (Dausų Vartai). While Auštaras shows the way for good souls, Vėjas (Vėjopatis) blows bad souls into oblivion.
Earliest Russian chronicles
Some names from Lithuanian mythology are also found in Russian chronicles of the 13th century. These deities were supposedly worshiped by King of Lithuania MindaugasMindaugas
Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians...
secretly after baptizing. Russian chronicles are considered the best source of information about ancient Lithuanian pantheon worshiped by feodals and military.
- Sovijus in 13th century Russian chronicles was a person who introduced the pagan custom of burning bodies after death, according to studies by Gintaras BeresnevičiusGintaras BeresneviciusGintaras Beresnevičius was a Lithuanian historian of religions specializing in Baltic mythology. He together with Norbertas Vėlius is considered to be the best specialist in Lithuanian mythology....
. The mediaeval chronicles tells that this custom is very old and was called Sovica. Sovica was practicated not only by Lithuanians but also by other pagan tribes (Livonians, Estonians and others). - Žvoruna was a euphemismEuphemismA euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
of the hunting and forest goddess like Roman DianaDiana (mythology)In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy...
. Her name is connected with wild animals. There was mentioned in chronicle that she is a bitch, it means that her zoomorphic shape is female dog. - MedeinaMedeinaMedeina or Medeinė , often treated as synonymous to Žvorūnė or Žvorūna , is a one of the main deities in the Lithuanian mythology, similar to Latvian Meža Māte. She is a ruler of forests, trees and animals...
(Medeinė) is other euphemism of the hunting and forest goddess. Medeina also was mentioned in 16th century by J. Lasicki. She was worshiped by peasants. - Teliavelis (Televelis) was a powerful smith who made the sun and threw it to the sky. This myth survived in folk tales in the beginning of 20th century. Some scholars, like K. BūgaKazimieras BugaKazimieras Būga was a Lithuanian linguist and philologist. He was a professor of linguistics, who mainly worked on the Lithuanian language.He was born at Pažiegė, near Dusetos, then part of the Russian Empire...
tried to prove that Televelis is incorrectly written Kalvelis (smith diminutive in Lithuanian). Teliavelis has connections with Finnish IlmarinenIlmarinenSeppo Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer, blacksmith and inventor in the Kalevala, is an archetypal artificer from Finnish mythology. Immortal, he is capable of creating practically anything, but is portrayed as unlucky in love...
. - Andajus (Andajas, Andojas, etc.) was mentioned in medieval chronicles as supreme deity. It may be euphemism of DievasDievasLithuanian Dievas, Latvian Dievs, Prussian Deywis, Yotvingian Deivas was the supreme god in the Baltic mythology and one of the most important deities together with Perkūnas. Dievas is a direct successor of the Proto-Indo-European supreme god *Dyēus of the root *deiwo-...
. There was mentioned in chronicle that warriors invoke Andajus in battle. - Nonadievis (Nunadievis, by some scholars etimologized as Numadievis) is incorrectly written name of supreme god or just another euphemism.
- Perkūnas was the god of thunder, one of the most powerful deities. Perkūnas survived in people faith and folk tales till the 20th century.
- Diviriks is thought to be one of Perkūnas euphemisms, meaning leader of gods.
Martynas Mažvydas
Martynas MažvydasMartynas Mažvydas
Martynas Mažvydas Martynas Mažvydas Martynas Mažvydas (1510 near Žemaičių Naumiestis (now in Šilutė district municipality) - May 21, 1563 in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad) was the author and the editor of the first printed book in the Lithuanian language....
in his Latin introduction to Catechismusa Prasty Szadei (1547) urged the people to abandon their pagan ways and mentioned the following gods:
- PerkūnasPerkunasPerkūnas was the common Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky.-Etymology:...
(Percuno) – god of thunder - Laukosargas (Laucosargus) – god of grains and other agricultural plants
- Žemėpatis (Semepates) – god of cattle and other farm animals
- Aitvaras and kaukas (Eithuaros and Caucos) – evil spirits
Maciej Stryjkowski
Maciej StryjkowskiMaciej Stryjkowski
Maciej Stryjkowski was a Polish-Lithuanian historian, writer and a poet, notable as the author of Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all of Ruthenia , amongst other aspects of this work considered the first printed book on the history of Lithuania.-Biography:Maciej Stryjkowski was...
(1547–1593) was a Polish–Lithuanian historian and author of Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all Russia. In this work, Stryjkowski provided two lists of gods, one Old Prussian and another Lithuanian. He listed 16 Lithuanian gods:
- Prakorimas (Prokorimos) – the supreme deity. Stryjkowski elaborated that people used to sacrifice white cocks to Prakorimas. The flesh would be dividing into three pieces: one for peasants, another for pagan priests (Lithuanian: žynys), and third for burning. Stryjkowski pointed out that Prakorimas was similar to Prussian supreme god Okopirmas.
- Rūgutis (Ruguczis) – god of fermentation and fermented foods
- Žemininkas (Ziemennik) – god of land and agriculture. The cult of žaltysŽaltysŽaltys is a household spirit in the Lithuanian mythology. As sacred animal of the sun goddess Saulė, it is a guardian of the home and a symbol of fertility. People used to keep it as a pet by the stove or other special area of the house, believing that it would bring good harvest and wealth....
(grass snake) is associated with the cult of Žemininkas. - Krūminė (Kruminie Pradziu Warpu) – deity of earsEar (botany)An ear is the grain-bearing tip part of the stem of a cereal plant, such as wheat or maize. It can also refer to "a prominent lobe in some leaves".The ear is a spike, consisting of a central stem on which grows tightly packed rows of flowers...
, provider of crops - Lietuvonis (Lituwanis) – god of rain
- Kauriraris (Chaurirari) – deity of war and war-horses. The name etymology is unclear. Vladimir ToporovVladimir ToporovVladimir Nikolayevich Toporov was a leading Russian philologist associated with the Tartu-Moscow semiotic school. His wife was Tatyana Elizarenkova....
suggested that it is derived from Lithuanian word kaurai (fur), while Wilhelm MannhardtWilhelm MannhardtWilhelm Mannhardt was a German scholar and folklorist. He is known for his work on Baltic mythology, as a collector, and for his championing of the solar theory....
argued it stems from karas (war). - Sutvaras (Sotwaros) – god of all cattle
- Šeimos dievas (Seimi Dewos) – god of family
- Upinis dievas (Upinis Dewos) – god of rivers
- Bubilas – god of honey and bees
- Didis Lado (Dzidzis Lado) – the great god. Festivities, songs, and dances in his honor lasted from May 25 to June 25. There are doubts whether it was an actual god.
- Gulbis (Gulbi Dzievos) – the good spirit of every human, guardian angel
- Ganiklis (Goniglis Dziewos) – god of herds and shepards
- Šventpaukštinis (Swieczpunscynis) – god of all domesticated and wild birds. People did not offer sacrifices to him as he was a free spirit.
- Kelių dievas (Kielu Dziewos) – god of roads, trade and travel
- Pušaitis or Puškaitis (Puszajtis) – deity of land, living in bushes of sambucus and commanding chthonicChthonicChthonic designates, or pertains to, deities or spirits of the underworld, especially in relation to Greek religion. The Greek word khthon is one of several for "earth"; it typically refers to the interior of the soil, rather than the living surface of the land or the land as territory...
dwarfs barstukas
Jan Łasicki
Jan ŁasickiJan Łasicki
Jan Łasicki was a Polish historian and theologian. He was well-educated and traveled extensively in Western Europe from 1556 to 1581. Around 1557 he converted Calvinism, becoming a follower of the Unity of the Brethren after 1567....
(Lasicius) was a Polish Protestant activist. He wrote a treatise on idolatry
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
About gods of Samogitians, other Sarmatians, and false Christians (De diis Samagitarum caeterorumque Sarmatarum et falsorum Christianorum, written ca. 1582 and published in 1615). This 18-page treatise contained a lists of 76 Lithuanian gods with brief description of their functions. Łasicki obtained most of his information from Łaszkowski, a Polish lesser noble
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
who worked as a royal land surveyor. The list contained very minor deities, representing everyday household items. Łasicki was also not intimately familiar with Lithuanian culture or language. Therefore, the academic opinion on the list ranges from a valuable resource to a practical joke designed to poke fun of Christian saints through an inverted mirror. Deities mentioned by Jan Łasicki were:
- Aukštėjas (Auxtheias Vissagistis) – an euphemismEuphemismA euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
of the supreme god. Derived from Lithuanian word aukštas (high). - Žemėpatis (Zemopacios)
- Perkūnas (Percunos) – god of thunder god
- Audros – god of storm
- Algis
- Aušra (Ausca) – the morning star (VenusVenusVenus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
). Her other name was AušrinėAušrineAušrinė is a feminine deity of the Morning Star in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the antipode to Vakarinė, the Evening Star. Her cult possibly stems from the Proto-Indo-European religion and is related to Latvian Auseklis, Greek Eos, Roman Aurora, and Vedic Ushas. Aušrinė is the goddess of...
. - Bežlėja (Bezlea)
- Brėkšta (Breksta) – goddess of twilight. Also it could be a euphemism of Vakarė.
- Ligyčius (Ligiczus)
- Datanus
- Kirnis (Kirnus) – local god of cherries
- Kremata – god of hogs
- Pyzius (Pizio) – god of spouses
- Medeina (Modeina et Ragaina) – goddess of forest and hunting
- Kerpyčius and Šilinytis (Kierpiczus and Siliniczus) – gods of forest, mossMossMosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and lichenLichenLichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s - Tavalas (Tavvals) – deity of physical strength. Gintaras BeresnevičiusGintaras BeresneviciusGintaras Beresnevičius was a Lithuanian historian of religions specializing in Baltic mythology. He together with Norbertas Vėlius is considered to be the best specialist in Lithuanian mythology....
noted that this deity could be the same medieval Teliavelis. - Orthus
- Ežerinis (Ezernim) – spirit or deity of lakes. Derived from ežeras (lake).
- Sidžius, Simonaitis and Ventis Rekičionis (Simonaitem, Sidzium, Ventis Rekicziouum) – spirits worshiped by individual noble families
- Karvaitis Ėraitinis (Kurvvaiczin Eraiczin) – deity of calves and lambs
- Gardūnytis (Gardunithis) – protector of newly-born lambs
- Prigirstytis (Prigirstitis) – can hear whispers
- Derintojas (Derfintos)
- Bentis
- Lavvkpatimo
- Priparšis (Priparscis)
- Ratainyčia (Ratainicza) – god of horses
- Valgina (Walgina) – god of cattle
- Krikštas (Kriksthos) – protector of tombstones
- Apydėmė (Apidome) – deity of changed residence. The name is also known from hand-written collection of sermons from 1573.
- Kriukis (Krukis) – deity of pigs
- Lazdona (Lasdona) – goddess of hazelnutsCommon HazelCorylus avellana, the Common Hazel, is a species of hazel native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles south to Iberia, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, north to central Scandinavia, and east to the central Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, and northwestern Iran. It is an important component of...
- Bubilas (Babilos) – household god of beeBeeBees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s, husband of Austėja - ŽemynaŽemynaŽemyna is the goddess of the earth in Lithuanian mythology. She is usually regarded as mother goddess and one of the chief Lithuanian gods similar to Latvian Zemes māte. Žemyna personifies the fertile earth and nourishes all life on earth, human, plant, and animal. All that is born of earth will...
(Zemina) – goddess of land and agriculture - Austėja (Austheia) – household goddess of bees, often presented as wife of Bubilas
- Deuoitis
- Vetustis
- Guboi and Tvverticos
- Veliuona (Vielona) – goddess of death
- Warpulis
- Salaus – no function recorded by Łasicki.
- Šluotražis (Szlotrazis) – no function recorded by Łasicki. The name is derived from šluota (broom).
- Tiklis – no function recorded by Łasicki.
- Beržulis (Birzulis) – no function recorded by Łasicki. Based on etymology, it could be a god of birchBirchBirch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
es and birch sapSapSap may refer to:* Plant sap, the fluid transported in xylem cells or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant* Sap , a village in the Dunajská Streda District of Slovakia...
. - Šeryčius (Siriczus) – no function recorded by Łasicki. The name is possibly derived from šerti (feed).
- Dvargantis (Dvvargonth) – no function recorded by Łasicki.
- Klamals – no function recorded by Łasicki.
- Atlaibas (Atlaibos) – no function recorded by Łasicki.
- Numeias
- Ublanyčia (Vblanicza) – patron of beggars
- Dugnai – spirit of flour
- Pesseias
- Trotytojas kibirkščių (Tratitas Kirbixtu) – deity of spark, fire
- Alabathis
- Polengabia
- Užpelenė (Aspelenie)
- Budintojas (Budintaia)
- Matergabiae
- Raugo Žemėpatis (Rauguzemapati) – deity of sourdough, leaven and fermentation
- Luibegeldas
- Ziemennik
- Vaižgantas (Waizganthos) – a god of flax
- GabijaGabijaGabija is the goddess of fire and hearth in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the protector of home and family, provider of happiness and fertility. Her name is derived from gaubti or from St. Agatha...
(Gabie) – goddess of household fire - Smik smik per velėną (Smik Smik Perleuenu) – a phrase rather than a being
- Ežiagalis (Ezagulis) – god of death
- Aitvaras (Aitvvaros)
- Kaukas (Kaukie)
- Gyvatė (Giuoitos) – black snake (see also žaltysŽaltysŽaltys is a household spirit in the Lithuanian mythology. As sacred animal of the sun goddess Saulė, it is a guardian of the home and a symbol of fertility. People used to keep it as a pet by the stove or other special area of the house, believing that it would bring good harvest and wealth....
) - Srutis and Miechutele – deities of paint and color
Matthäus Prätorius
Deities mentioned by Matthäus PrätoriusMatthäus Prätorius
Matthäus Prätorius was a Protestant pastor, later a Roman Catholic priest, a historian and ethnographer....
(1635–1704) were:
- Žalius (Zallus) – god of disagreement
- Žėlius (Zelus) – god of grass
- Šulininis (Szullinnijs) – god of wells
- Bangpūtys, Vėjopatis, Bičbirbis, Giltinė, Gota, Jaučių Baubis, Karvaitis, Ėraitis, Skalsa, Biržulis / Beržulis, Prigirstytis / Girystis, Ligyčius / Lygėjus, Kelio dievas / Kelukis
- Drebkulis and Magyla - Prussian Lithuanian
- Gabjauja (Gabvartas)
Theodor Narbutt
Polish historian Theodor Narbutt wrote the ten-volume work History of the Lithuanian Nation (Dzieje starożytne narodu litewskiego) between 1835 and 1841. The first volume contained a description of Lithuanian mythology. However, modern historians have accused Narbutt of falsifying historical facts and reporting speculations. Thus, some gods mentioned only by Narbutt and unknown from other sources are usually treated as a figure of author's imagination.Male deities
- Praamžius (Pramżimas) – highest god, determines the fate of people, world, and other gods
- Ukapirmas (Okkapirmas) – preceded time, his feast is celebrated on December 25
- Viršaitis (Wirszajtos) – protected household, domestic animals. Narbutt claimed that he was equivalent to Auxtejas Wissagistis mentioned by Łasicki and to Roman SaturnSaturn (mythology)In ancient Roman religion and myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. His reign was depicted as a Golden Age of abundance and peace by many Roman authors. In medieval times he was known as the Roman god of agriculture, justice and strength. He held a sickle in...
- PerkūnasPerkunasPerkūnas was the common Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky.-Etymology:...
(Perkunas) – thunder god - Kovas (Kawas) – god of war
- Ragutis – god of beer, vodka, mead
- Santvaras or Sotvaras (Sotwaros) – god of daylight, poets, doctors
- Atrimpas (Atrimpos) – god of sea and water
- Gardaitis (Gardeoldiis) – god of wind, storm, protector of ships
- Poklius (Poklus) – god of death and underworld
- Kriukis (Krugis) – god of smiths
- Žiemininkas (Ziemienikas) – god of earth, harvest, and darkness
- Patelas (Patelo) – flying god of air, similar to an angel
- Šneibratas (Sznejbrato) – god of birds and hunting
- Kibirai (Kabiry) – a trinity
Female deities
- Praurimė (Praurime) – goddess of sacred fire, she was served by vaidilutės
- Lada (Lado) – the great goddess, Rasos festivalSaint Jonas' FestivalSaint Jonas' Festival is a midsummer folk festival celebrated on June 24 all around Lithuania. While midsummer day is celebrated throughout Europe, many Lithuanians have a particularly lively agenda on this day...
is dedicated to her - Budtė (Budte) – goddess of wisdom
- Laima (Lajma) – goddess of fate
- Pelenų Gabija (Polengabia) – goddess of fireplaces
- Moterų Gabija (Matergabia) – goddess of bread and bakery
- Perkūnaitėlė (Perkunatele) – wife of Perkūnas
- Pilvytė (Pilwite) – goddess of money, riches, and good luck
- Lietuva (Liethua) – goddess of freedom, pleasure, joy
- Veliuona (Wellona) – goddess of eternity, afterlife
- Pergrubė (Pergrubie) – goddess of spring, flowers, gardens
- Milda – goddess of love, courtship
- Krūminė (Krumine) – goddess of grain, agriculture
- Nijolė (Nijola) – mistress of the underworld, wife of Poklius
- Alabatis – goddess of flax
- Aušra (Ausssra) – morning goddess
- Bezelea – evening goddess
- Brėkšta (Brekszta) – goddess of darkness and dreams
- Kruonis (Kronis) – goddess of time
- Užsparinė (Usparinia) – goddess of land borders
- Verpėja (Werpeja) – weaver of the thread of life
- Gondu – goddess of weddings
- Upinė (Upine) – goddess of rivers, springs
- Ratainyčia (Ratajniczu) – goddess protecting horses
- Valginė (Walgina) – goddess protecting domestic animals
- Luobo gelda (Lajbegelda) – goddess of knowledge and rumors
- Mėšlų boba (Mahslu baba) – goddess of garbage
- Budintoja – spirit that wakes sleeping people
- Austėja (Austheja) – goddess of bees
- Ragutiene Pati (Ragutenapati) – wife of Ragutis
- Žemės Motina (Zemmes mahti) – goddess of underground, responsible for lost items
- Gaila (Gajla) – spirit torturing people and animals
- Neris – nymph of Neris River
- Dugnė (Dugna) – nymph of rivers
- Ragana – goddess of trees
- Lazdona – goddess of hazelnut
- Medziojna – goddess of forests
- Pajauta – worshiped woman, daughter of Duke Kernius, wife of ŽivinbudasŽivinbudasŽivinbudas was one of the five senior Lithuanian dukes mentioned in the treaty with Halych-Volhynia in 1219. The treaty lists a total of 21 dukes, five of them being elder or superior. Since Živinbudas is mentioned first in the list, it is presumed that he was the supreme ruler of Lithuania...
- BirutėBiruteBirutė was the second wife of Kęstutis, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and mother of Vytautas the Great. There is very little known about Birutė's life but after her death a strong cult developed among Lithuanians, especially in Samogitia.-Marriage:...
(Biruta) – worshiped woman, wife of KęstutisKestutisKęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila...
Other written sources
This section contains those names of Lithuanian and Prussian gods or other mythical beings that are mentioned in old treatises on history or philosophy, sometimes accompanied by brief descriptions, and which are known from a few independent sources or from their counterparts under different names in later collections of myths and tales.- Dimstipatis (mentioned by Jokūbas Lavinskis), is a masculine deity (genius lociGenius lociIn classical Roman religion a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding a Cornucopia, patera and/or a snake. There are many Roman altars found in Western Europe dedicated in whole or in part to the particular Genius Loci...
). It is a household god, the guardian of houseHouseA house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
s and caretaker of the hearth. People sacrificed roosters and black hens to the deity. The birds were boiled; later people would gather around the kettle and eat the birds. The bones were burned. Sometimes Dimstipatis is reconstructed as a god of housewives, to whom pigs were sacrificeSacrificeSacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...
d. Dimstipatis was also seen as a power protecting from fires. - Dirvolika, Nosolus (Jesuit reports from 1605)
- Pagirnis (Jesuit reports from 1605)
- Baukuris (Kraziu kolegijos)
- Velinas (mentioned by Konstantinas SirvydasKonstantinas SirvydasKonstantinas Sirvydas died 1631) was a Lithuanian religious preacher, lexicographer and one of the pioneers of Lithuanian literature from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, at the time a confederal part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
) - Javinė (Jawinne by Jacob Brodowski)
- Laima (Daniel KleinDaniel Klein (grammarian)Daniel Klein was a Lutheran pastor and scholar from Tilsit, Duchy of Prussia, who is best known for writing the first grammar book of the Lithuanian language.Klein studied philosophy, theology, Greek and Hebrew in the University of Königsberg...
in 1666)
Other names
The names, that were more marginal in Lithuanian mythology or less known from existing sources are put here. In fact they denote some spirits or local deities, that don't play a main role in the mythology of Lithuanians.- Blizgulis, a god of snow. His name means "that who glitters."
- Junda, Goddess of War
- Baubis, a household god of meat and cattleCattleCattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. - Divytis, a god-like hero of fishermen legends. Fishermen at sea sang songs about Divytis.
- Gardaitis, a god (a spirit?) of ships and sailors.
- Jagaubis, a household spirit of fire and the furnaceFurnaceA furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the...
. - Rasa, Kupolė's and Kaupolis' daughter. She is the goddess of summer's greenage and flowers.
- Mokas, a stone with an ability to teach people, sometimes they are found in families - with wife Mokienė and children Mokiukas
See also
- Latvian mythologyLatvian mythologyLatvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European cultures. Much of its symbolism is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life...
- Lithuanian mythologyLithuanian mythologyLithuanian mythology is an example of Baltic mythology, developed by Lithuanians throughout the centuries.-History of scholarship:Surviving information about Baltic paganism in general is very sketchy and incomplete. As with most ancient Indo-European cultures Lithuanian mythology is an example of...
- Slavic mythologySlavic mythologySlavic mythology is the mythological aspect of the polytheistic religion that was practised by the Slavs before Christianisation.The religion possesses many common traits with other religions descended from the Proto-Indo-European religion....
- Romuva (temple)Romuva (temple)Romuva or Romowe was a pagan worship place in western part of Sambia, one of the regions of the pagan Prussia. In contemporary sources the temple was mentioned only once by Peter von Dusburg in 1326...
Further reading
- Lithuanian Religion and Mythology by Gintaras BeresnevičiusGintaras BeresneviciusGintaras Beresnevičius was a Lithuanian historian of religions specializing in Baltic mythology. He together with Norbertas Vėlius is considered to be the best specialist in Lithuanian mythology....
- Gintaras BeresnevičiusGintaras BeresneviciusGintaras Beresnevičius was a Lithuanian historian of religions specializing in Baltic mythology. He together with Norbertas Vėlius is considered to be the best specialist in Lithuanian mythology....
on periodisation and Gods in Lithuanian mythology.http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/mythology/relmyth.html - Algirdas Julien GreimasAlgirdas Julien GreimasAlgirdas Julien Greimas , known among other things for the Greimas Square, is considered, along with Roland Barthes, the most prominent of the French semioticians. With his training in linguistics, he added to the theory of signification and laid the foundations for the Paris School of Semiotics...
, "Of Gods and Men: Studies in Lithuanian Mythology", Indiana Univ. Press (November 1992)