LIETUVIŲ VEDYBŲ, ŠEIMOS VAISINGUMO, SEKSUALINIŲ SANTYKIŲ DIEVYBIŲ AUTENTIŠKUMO KLAUSIMU
On the Question of the Authenticity of Lithuanian Deities of Marriage, Family Fertility and Sexual Relations

Summary/Abstract: In the written sources, there are just two deities concerned with the protection of youth, love and marriage: Pizius and Gandus, both mentioned in a rather fragmentary way by J. Lasicki in the 16th century. There is no general agreement on their authenticity. The basis of this article is written sources as well as work by investigators in the 19th and 20th centuries, aided by folklore, linguistic, archaeological, historical and other sources. The article discusses the problem of the authenticity of Gandus and Pizius, the origin of their names and the nature of their functions. The article analyzes traces of rituals ascribed to these deities left in traditions and folklore are, and it researches analogues in the myths of other nations and Christianity. As well as Lithuanian beliefs, traditions and folklore from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century, deities of other nations speak in favor of the authenticity of Gandus (Gondus) and Pizius. Many nations, of course, have deities of love, marriage or at least of fertility. Among the better known are Ishtar of Babylonia-Assyria, Isis of Egypt and Aphrodite and Eros of Greek mythology, whom the Romans equated with Venera and Cupid (Amor), and Freyja, the goddess of fertility, love and beauty for the Scandinavians. The Greek god Priapus and the Scandinavian god Freyr appear in the form of the phallus (or the phallus is the dominant attribute); the women's deity Mokosh, who likely concerned herself with matters of initiation, marriage and the fertility of brides, was also known to the Slavs.

• Details
• Contents