Motiejus Strijkovskis apie lietuvių pagonybę: aukojimas dievams
Maciej Stryjkowski on Lithuanian paganism: making sacrifices for gods

Summary/Abstract: The article examines in contemporary research yet unconsidered data which is provided by Maciej Stryjkowski (born in 1547 – died around 1588–1590) in his “Cronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all Russia” on sacrificing rituals mentioned in the list of Lithuanian and Samogitian gods. The analysis showed that in the second half of the 16th century during calendar and family holidays in Lithuanian village thanksgiving and petition used to be performed for the sake of farmed prosperity. From time to time still huge sacrifices were made (oxen, pigs, goats and so forth) but most often (for eleven gods out of sixteen) poultry (hens and roosters), rarely – some other minor sacrificies (piglets, livestock parts, honey). Such decrease in size and leveling of sacrifices indicate the final stage of pagan religion. Although identification of gods refereed to by M. Stryjkowski remains problematic but sacrifice rituals are authentic because they are confirmed by other these times sources.

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