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Baltic mythology is the body ofmythology of theBaltic peoples stemming from Baltic paganism and continuing afterChristianization and into Baltic folklore.
Baltic mythology ultimately stems fromProto-Indo-European mythology. The Baltic region was one of the last regions of Europe to be Christianized, a process that began in the 15th century and continued for at least a century afterward. While no native texts survive detailing the mythology of the Baltic peoples during the pagan period, knowledge of such beliefs may be gained from Roman and German chronicles, from later folklore, frometymology and from the reconstructions ofcomparative mythology.[1]
While the early chronicles (14th and 15th century) were largely the product of missionaries who sought to eradicate the native paganism of the Baltic peoples, rich material survives into Baltic folklore. This material has been of particular value inIndo-European studies as, like theBaltic languages, it is considered by scholars to be notably conservative, reflecting elements ofProto-Indo-European religion. The Indo-EuropeanDivine Twins are particularly well represented as theDieva dēli (Latvian 'sons of god') andDievo sūneliai (Lithuanian 'sons of god'). According to folklore, they are the children ofDievas (Lithuanian and Latvian - see Proto-Indo-European *Dyeus). Associated with the brothers and their father are two goddesses; the personifiedSun,Saule (Latvian and Lithuanian 'sun') andSaules meita (Latvian 'Sun's daughter').[2]
