Studies into the Balts' sacred places

Link to:
Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Knyga / Book
Language:
Anglų kalba / English
Title:
Studies into the Balts' sacred places
Authors:
Vaitkevičius, Vykintas
Publication Data:
Oxford : John and Erica Hedges Ltd, 2004.
Pages:
124 p
Series:
BAR international series; 1228
Contents:
1. Introduction: 1.1 Terms and definitions; 1.2 Sources; 1.3 Review of investigations — 2. Alka, Alkas (general meanings): 2.1 Linguistic data; 2.2 Historic data; 2.3 Folklore data; 2.4 Archaeological data — 3. Classification of monuments: 3.1 Hills; 3.2 Fields; 3.3 Forests, groves; 3.4 Stones; 3.5 Waters; 3.6 Hollows; 3.7 Caves — 4. Links between sacred places — 5. The status of sacred places — 6. Sacred places and the cult of the dead — 7. The traditions of sacred places: chronology and — 8. Conclusions — References — Maps — Appendix A. The Balts in the late 1st - early 2nd millennium AD — Appendix B. The Balts’ tribes in the investigated area in the late 1st - early 2nd millennium AD — Appendix C. Administrative map of the investigated area — Appendix D. Sites cited and analysed in the monograph — Index. Mythological and religious terms.
Subject Category:
LT
Šventvietės / Sacred place; 11 tūkst. m. pr. Kr. - 12 amžius. Lietuvos priešistorė; Lietuva (Lithuania).
Summary / Abstract:

ENBalts’ sacred places, the old common name of which is alkai, are one of the most interesting monument groups. They have not been properly protected or investigated for many years for various reasons: ideological, methodological, and financial. A sacred place is not only a hill or a stone. Usually they have their own names and are shrouded in place-legends and beliefs. Sometimes people still believe these sites bring happiness and health. They immortalise the contact between nature and culture, the history of gods and humans. So sacred places are one of the most amazing realia of prehistoric world and this monograph is intended for those who seek more knowledge about it. From the bottom of my heart I devote this monograph to the memory of the ancient Balts. Many of them perished in the whirlpools of historic events and religious changes, were scattered to faraway regions, or were forced to change their faith. The sacred places, their cult places, that are examined in this monograph have become shrouded in secrecy and buried in time [p. 1].

ISBN:
1841713562
Subject:
Archeologija / Archaeology
Related Publications:
Камни с ямками в Литве: итоги исследований 1972-2016 гг.. Культовые камни Восточной Европы: Беларусь, Латвия, Литва, Россия. Санкт-Петербург : Гуманитарная Академия, 2018. P. 194-213.
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2025-07-06 21:02:08
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