Milda (mythology)
Milda, in the
Neo-pagan societies and communities, including Romuva, organize various events in honor of goddess Milda in May.[2] The Milda Mons, a mountain on Venus, is named after her.[3]
Narbutt's information
Milda was first mentioned by
Adam Honory Kirkor and Władysław Syrokomla who with the help from Narbutt identified it as that of Milda. This figurine was later held at the Museum of Antiquities in Vilnius.[5]
Scholastic analysis
However, other authors, including Aleksander Brückner, Norbertas Vėlius, Gintaras Beresnevičius, expressed serious doubts whether such goddess actually existed in the Lithuanian mythology due to lack of evidence.[4]
According to
Aleksotas, it was only natural that Milda's temple stood there. There is no evidence, either in written documents, archaeological research, or folklore, to support Narbutt's claims.[4] In the same vein, Latvian ethnographer Pēteris Šmits argues that Milda is a fabrication by Narbutt, since there are no traces of her as a deity either in the languages, the historical chronicles, or in Baltic folk tradition.[6]
Cultural legacy
Narbutt's information was later repeated and popularized by many other writers and historians, including
woodcuts by Wincenty Smokowski.[4] His image of Milda continues to influence Milda's representations.[2] In 1918, Petras Vaičiūnas wrote a poetic play dedicated to Milda.[4]
References
- ISBN 9781409481706.
- ^ ISSN 0868-7692.
- ^ "Milda Mons". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ ISSN 0868-7692.
- ^ a b Būčys, Žygintas (2012). Senienos ir visuomenė: paveldo komunikacija XIX a. Lietuvoje (PDF) (PhD Thesis). Vilnius University. pp. 38, 129, 140–141.
- ^ Šmitas, Pėteris. Latvių mitologija. Iš latvių kalbos vertė Dainius Razauskas. Vilnius: Aidai, 2004. pp. 117-118.
Further reading
- Kregždys, Rolandas (2021). "On the Origin of the Pseudomythologeme Milda". Baltu filoloģija. 30 (1/2). Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte: 26–51. ISSN 1691-0036.