Dieva Dēli

The Dieva Dēli (Latvian: 'Sons of Dievs') are two (sometimes three) heavenly beings and the sons of the sky-god Dievs in Latvian mythology.

Origin

The Dieva Dēli are a reflex of the Indo-European Divine Twins.[1][2] The Latvian name Dieva Dēli ('Sons of Dievs', the sky-god) is comparable with the Lithuanian expression Dievo sūneliai, 'sons of Dievas (the sky-god'), referring to the Ašvieniai; the Vedic divó nápātā, 'grandsons of Dyaús (the sky-god)', attached to the Aśvins; and the Greek Diós-kouroi, the 'boys of Zeus', designating Castor and Pollux.[2] However, evidence of the depiction of the Dieva Dēli as twins are lacking.[3]

Theme

Like the Vedic Aśvins, the Dieva Dēli are portrayed as the suitors of the Saules Meitas, the 'Daughters of the Sun'.[3] The Latvian dainas (folk songs) tell how the Dieva Dēli set them free, along with the Sun, with the help of their father Dievs.[4] A recurrent them is the rescue of the sinking Sun from the sea by the Dieva Dēli who row to save her in their golden boat.[1] They are also said to mow the heavenly pastures on which the Saules Meitas rake up the hay, and they pour water on the heated stones in the heavenly bath-house.[4]

Bibliography
  1. Mallory & Adams 1997, p. 163.
  2. West 2007, p. 187–191.
  3. Ankrava 2014, p. 369.
  4. Lurker, Manfred (2015). A Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-10628-6.

Primary sources
  • Jonval, Michel (1929). Les chansons mythologiques lettonnes. Librarie Picart. OCLC 7012710.

References
  • Ankrava, Lisbeth (2014). "Baltic Religion". In Bredholt Christensen; Hammer, Olav; Warburton, David (eds.). The Handbook of Religions in Ancient Europe. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-54453-1.
  • Mallory, James P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5.
  • West, Martin L. (2007). Indo-European Poetry and Myth. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-928075-9.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.