Medeina
Encyclopedia
Medeina or Medeinė often treated as synonymous to Žvorūnė or Žvorūna (derived from žvėris (beast)), 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. Her sacred animal is a hare.
A Slavic transcription of the Chronicle by John Malalas
(dated 1261) mentioned Žvorūna and three other gods. The Hypatian Codex
, describing events of 1252, mentioned pagan gods still worshiped by King Mindaugas
. The Codex mentioned Medeina and an unnamed hare goddess. There is an academic discussion whether Medeina is the name of hare goddess mentioned in the Codex or those two are independent deities. As part of the official pantheon, Medeina represented military interest of warriors and later was replaced by Žemyna
, goddess of earth representing agricultural interest of peasants. In the 15th century, Jan Długosz compared Medeina with Roman goddess Diana
. She was also mentioned by Jan Łasicki
, Mikalojus Daukša
, and in the Bychowiec Chronicle
.
According to research by Algirdas Julius Greimas, Medeina is single, unwilling to get married, though voluptuous and beautiful huntress. She is depicted as a young woman and a she-wolf (cf.
vilkmergė) with an escort of wolves. Her duty is not to help the hunters, but to protect the forest. Vykintas Vaitkevičius identified five Hare Churches (sacred stones, hills, forests) and ten Wolf-footprints (stones with hollows that resemble a footprint) in Eastern Lithuania (former Duchy of Lithuania
) that were related to the cult of Medeina. After baptism of Lithuania, the cult diminished.
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...
, similar to Latvian Meža Māte. She is a ruler of forests, trees and animals. Her sacred animal is a hare.
A Slavic transcription of the Chronicle by John Malalas
John Malalas
John Malalas or Ioannes Malalas was a Greek chronicler from Antioch. Malalas is probably a Syriac word for "rhetor", "orator"; it is first applied to him by John of Damascus .-Life:Malalas was educated in Antioch, and probably was a jurist there, but moved to...
(dated 1261) mentioned Žvorūna and three other gods. The Hypatian Codex
Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex is a compendium of three chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kiev Chronicle, and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle. It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'...
, describing events of 1252, mentioned pagan gods still worshiped by King Mindaugas
Mindaugas
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...
. The Codex mentioned Medeina and an unnamed hare goddess. There is an academic discussion whether Medeina is the name of hare goddess mentioned in the Codex or those two are independent deities. As part of the official pantheon, Medeina represented military interest of warriors and later was replaced by Žemyna
Žemyna
Žemyna 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 of earth representing agricultural interest of peasants. In the 15th century, Jan Długosz compared Medeina with Roman goddess Diana
Diana (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...
. She was also mentioned by Jan Łasicki
Jan 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....
, Mikalojus Daukša
Mikalojus Daukša
Mikalojus Daukša was a Lithuanian and Latin religious writer, translator and a Catholic church official...
, and in the Bychowiec Chronicle
Bychowiec Chronicle
The Bychowiec Chronicle named the Letopis of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is an anonymous 16th century chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Although one of the least reliable sources of the epoch, it is considered the most complete redaction of the Lithuanian Chronicles...
.
According to research by Algirdas Julius Greimas, Medeina is single, unwilling to get married, though voluptuous and beautiful huntress. She is depicted as a young woman and a she-wolf (cf.
Cf.
cf., an abbreviation for the Latin word confer , literally meaning "bring together", is used to refer to other material or ideas which may provide similar or different information or arguments. It is mainly used in scholarly contexts, such as in academic or legal texts...
vilkmergė) with an escort of wolves. Her duty is not to help the hunters, but to protect the forest. Vykintas Vaitkevičius identified five Hare Churches (sacred stones, hills, forests) and ten Wolf-footprints (stones with hollows that resemble a footprint) in Eastern Lithuania (former Duchy of Lithuania
Duchy of Lithuania
Duchy of Lithuania was a state-territorial formation of ethnic Lithuanians, that existed from the 12th century until 1413. Most of the time it was a constituent part and a nucleus of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
) that were related to the cult of Medeina. After baptism of Lithuania, the cult diminished.