18 Facts About Lithuanian mythology

Lithuanian mythology is the mythology of Lithuanian polytheism, the religion of pre-Christian Lithuanians.

In pre-Christian Lithuania, mythology was a part of polytheistic religion; after Christianisation mythology survived mostly in folklore, customs and festive rituals.

Lithuanian mythology is very close to the mythology of other Baltic nations – Prussians, Latvians, and is considered a part of Baltic mythology.

Lithuanian mythology mentioned Christian missionaries cutting off holy groves and oaks, which Lithuanians believed to be homes of the gods.

Lithuania became Christianized between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, but Lithuanian mythology polytheism survived for another two centuries, gradually losing influence and coherence as a religion.

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Lithuanian mythology was not static, but constantly developed, so it did not remain in the same form over the longer periods.

Lithuanian mythology considered it close to the ancient culture of Rome.

Many scholars preferred to write their own reconstructions of Lithuanian mythology, based on historical, archaeological, and ethnographic data.

Interest in Baltic and Lithuanian mythology was growing along with interest in Lithuanian language among Indo-Europeanists, since the conservative and native Baltic nations preserved very archaic language and cultural traditions.

Two well-accepted descendants of the Divine Twins, the Vedic Asvins and the Lithuanian mythology Asvieniai, are linguistic cognates ultimately deriving from the Proto-Indo-European word for the horse, *h1ekwos.

Lithuanian mythology is usually regarded as mother goddess and one of the chief Lithuanian gods.

Lithuanian mythology's name is derived from Lithuanian: gaubti – to cover, to protect.

In Lithuanian mythology fairy-tales recorded much later, there is very frequent opposition of kalvis and velnias.

Pre-Christian Lithuanian mythology is known mainly through attested bits recorded by chroniclers and folks songs; the existence of some mythological elements, known from later sources, has been confirmed by archaeological findings.

Lithuanian mythology is rich in gods and minor gods of water, sky and earth.

Lithuanian mythology woman reached Vytautas the Great with plaints that they are losing their places of Dievas, the places where they prayed supreme god – Dievas to withhold the Sun or rain.

Lithuanian mythology serves as a constant inspiration for Lithuanian artists.

Old Lithuanian names, related to nature and mythology are often given to the children.