Žemyna

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Žemyna or Žemynėlė (in Lithuanian žemė ; Latvian zeme ; Old Prussian same, semme "earth") is the earth mother in Lithuanian mythology , daughter of the sun goddess Saulė and the moon god Mėnulis . She is considered to be the mother of the plants, the flower donor and the breadwinner. In her honor, the first sip of beer is poured on the ground as a libation or a piece of bread is plowed under the first furrow. She also receives piglet offerings. The earth is also kissed and greeted with a short prayer, such as “My dear earth, my little mother! Carry me, fill me! "

Žemepatis

The Žemyna is supported by the god Žemepatis ("Lord of the Earth"); he is her brother and watches over the yard while his sister watches over the fields. Žemepatis was first mentioned in 1547 by Martynas Mažvydas , who called him the god of cattle.

Zemes māte

In Latvian mythology , Zemes māte ("earth mother") is the earth goddess to whom libations are given. It ensures the fertility of the fields and the prosperity of the people. In some texts, together with Laima , she determines a person's date of birth. As ruler of the underworld and the dead, she can merge with the Veļu māte ("mother of the dead") and then takes on dark features. When a person dies, Zemes māte waits in the cemetery to receive the dead person.

Tacitus

According to some researchers, the statement by Tacitus that the Aestians worshiped a mother of gods (deum matrem) relates to the Baltic earth goddess. However, this testimony is too vague and too far removed from the historical horizon for a direct comparison to be made.

See also

literature