Aitvaras
The Aitvaras (lit. aitvaras ) is a figure from Baltic mythology and legends.
The aitvaras moves in flight and it is mostly fiery but can change its appearance. He brings grain and other wealth, which he sometimes steals from the neighbor. If he is angry, he will burn the house down. The creature was first mentioned in 1547 by Martynas Mažvydas . Later sources also compare it to the incubus . In some aspects there is a similarity to the Alb . Otherwise it is compared with the snake or more often with the dragon - the children's toy " dragon " is called aitvaras in Lithuanian .
The Aitvaras is hatched from the egg of a seven-year-old rooster or from the testicle of a black stallion, or is attracted by feeding on egg dishes. The name has been variously explained, but no explanation is generally accepted.
See also
literature
- Jonas Balys, Haralds Biezais : Baltic mythology . In: Hans Wilhelm Haussig , Jonas Balys (Hrsg.): Gods and Myths in Old Europe (= Dictionary of Mythology . Department 1: The ancient civilized peoples. Volume 2). Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1973, ISBN 3-12-909820-8 .
- Norbertas Vėlius : Mitinės lietuvių sakmių butybių . Vaga, Vilnius 1977.