Dalia (goddess)

Dalia is a goddess of destiny in Lithuanian mythology . She is the donor and recipient of goods and property.

Dalia is often confused with Laima , another Lithuanian goddess of fate, and is also difficult to distinguish from her. Sometimes Dalia is thought to be another manifestation of Laima. Laima's job, however, is to predict a person's lifespan, while Dalia determines a person's material wealth over the course of their life, allocating everyone an appropriate share (Lithuanian: dalis ).

According to legend, Dievas Senelis , (a manifestation of the supreme god Dievs ), just like a father who divides his fortune among his children, gives an appropriate share to newborns. Dalia is not seen as a decision-maker, but rather as the executor of Diev's will. She can appear as a woman, lamb, dog, swan or duck.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c Algirdas Julien Greimas (1992). Of Gods and Men. Studies in Lithuanian Mythology. Indiana University Press. Pages 127-128. ISBN 0-253-32652-4 .
↑ Marija Gimbutas ; Miriam Robbins Dexter (2001). The Living Godesses . University of California Press . Page 201. ISBN 0-520-22915-0 .
↑ (Lithuanian) Jonas Zinkus, and other authors (1985–1988). "Dalia". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija I . Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. Page 378. LCC 86,232,954th

[Julien-1] Algirdas Julien Greimas (1992). Of Gods and Men. Studies in Lithuanian Mythology. Indiana University Press. Pages 127-128. ISBN 0-253-32652-4 .

[gimbu-2] Marija Gimbutas ; Miriam Robbins Dexter (2001). The Living Godesses . University of California Press . Page 201. ISBN 0-520-22915-0 .

[zinkus-3] (Lithuanian) Jonas Zinkus, and other authors (1985–1988). "Dalia". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija I . Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. Page 378. LCC 86,232,954th