Geographical Landmarks of Baltic Mythology

  

The geographical world around is often key in various mythological studies, as it's physicality is ever present. In nature, things beyond early science required an explanation and this role often fell to the supernatural realm. These stories and ideas often persist around these areas in modern day. The other role geography can play in the study of mythology is that of physical location of the inhabitants of a region. Relics of the past are often left behind that later allow a window into the past. In this post we will cover both of these types of geographical locations in Baltic mythology.

The Curonian Spit

The Curonian Spit is a 98km long spit on the coast of modern day Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian Federation). The Curonian Spit is a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the prehistoric era. It has often been subject to severe natural conditions and has only been able survive due to human attempts to preserve the spit from erosion.

Curonian Spit in Baltic Mythology and History 

In Baltic paganism the Curonian spit, was formed by the giantess-child, Neringa. She was playing on the seashore and pulled the land up into the shape it currently holds to protect the mainland from dangers of the Sea.


Historically this land and the Baltic peoples have been vastly intertwined. Back to the 1st Millennium C.E. The western Baltic tribes seasonally inhabitable the spit for its resources and fishing opportunities, and some speculate for religious purposes. Between 800-1016 C.E., the pagan trading capital of Kaup flourished.

Modern Curonian Spit and Baltic Mythology 

The Curonian spit remains possibly the only un-excavated viking-era settlement. Today, it is a national park in both Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) and vast efforts are being carried out to preserve the spit. Nor archaeological digs have preformed on the site and due to its history as a Pagan trading port, it is expected that many relics from that era persist buried in the spit. A main reason for not excavating the spit is a fear of destroying the vast reforestation projects that have taken place in hopes of stabilizing the spit. Modern believers of Baltic Paganism still use the land for rituals and view the land as a holy location.

Kernavė

Kernavė located in modern day Eastern-Lithuania is the location that is important in Baltic Pagan burials and was location of one of the most significant archaeological digs in the studies of Baltic History and Baltic Paganism. The burial clothes found at Kernavė are significant in understanding the cultural and religious of the last European pagan region into a Christian one. This settlement has no classical mythological stories or tales associated with but is important as a cultural hub of the early Baltic peoples and as a capital of sorts for trade and culture.

The Modern effects of Baltic Paganism and Geogrpahy

Physical location is one of the most concrete pathways in to the past. As we have the ruins of the Greek world, we Kernave and Curonian spit in the Baltic world to provide us a gate way into the past of times we have never lived. locations can provide us with physical artifacts. Alters and old religious artifacts are concrete articles in remembering the past of a region. On another level that papers and research are less likely to share with us, is the spiritual connection that anyone who has traveled to place of the past that truly resonated with their heart. This feeling of connection is something that guide people into more fully exploring the past of the world around them.