The Moon, Mēness, also belongs to the sky pantheon. Detailed analysis only recently has shown that he has a role as a war god in Baltic religion. Such a role is indicated not only by his dress and accoutrements but especially by his weapons and expressions used in times of war. The influence of syncretism, however, has erased the outlines of his characteristics so far as to make a description of his role and any cult he may have had very difficult. The sky wedding myths furnish a somewhat more complete picture in which he is represented as a conflict-creating rival suitor of Auseklis (“Morning Star”).

Auseklis, his sons, Dieva dēli, and Saules meitas form a separate group of divinities. Although they are mentioned in the sky myths, they have remained only as personifications of natural phenomena, characterized by the most beautiful metaphors. It is notable that a common characteristic of the sky gods, and, in fact, of all Baltic divinities, is the express tendency for each to have a family.

All of the divinities mentioned above are closely associated with horses: they either ride or are drawn in chariots across the sky mountain and arrive on earth in the same fashion. The number of horses is indeterminate but usually varies from two to five or more. This trait also confirms the close ties between Baltic and Indo-Iranian religions.

Although males form the majority of the sky gods, the chthonic (underworld) divinities are mostly female. In both Latvian and Lithuanian religions the earth is personified and called Earth Mother (Latvian Zemes māte, Lithuanian Z̆emyna). But the Lithuanians also have Earth Master (Z̆emėpatis). Latvians in general refer to mothers, Lithuanians to masters. Zemes māte is the only deity in addition to Dievs who is originally responsible for human welfare. Based on the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, it has been asserted that she is the mother of the other gods, but there is no support for this view in other sources. Under the influence of Christian–pagan syncretism, the Virgin Mary has assumed some of the functions of Zemes māte. Furthermore, some of these functions have been acquired and differentiated by various other later divinities, who, however, have not lost their original chthonic character. Thus, a deity of the dead has developed from Zemes māte, called in Latvian Smilšu māte (“Mother of the Sands”), Kapu māte (“Mother of the Graves”), and Veļu māte (“Mother of the Ghosts”). Libations and sacrifices were offered to Zemes māte. Such rituals were also performed in connection with the other divinities at a later stage of development. The fertility of the fields is also guaranteed by Jumis, who is symbolized by a double head of grain, and by various mothers, such as Lauka māte (“Mother of the Fields”), Linu māte (“Mother of the Flax”), and Mieža māte (“Mother of the Barley”).

Forest and agricultural deities

A forest divinity, common to all Baltic peoples, is called in Latvian Meža māte and in Lithuanian Medeinė (“Mother of the Forest”). She again has been further differentiated into other divinities, or rather she was given metaphorical appellations with no mythological significance, such as Krūmu māte (“Mother of the Bushes”), Lazdu māte (“Mother of the Hazels”), Lapu māte (“Mother of the Leaves”), Ziedu māte (“Mother of the Blossoms”), and even Sēņu māte (“Mother of the Mushrooms”). Forest animals are ruled by the Lithuanian Žvėrinė opposed to the Latvian Meža māte.

The safety and welfare of the farmer’s house is cared for by the Latvian Mājas gars (“Spirit of the House”; Lithuanian Kaukas), which lives in the hearth. Similarly, other farm buildings have their own patrons—Latvian Pirts māte (“Mother of the Bathhouse”) and Rijas māte (“Mother of the Threshing House”); Lithuanian Gabjauja.

Because natural phenomena and processes have often been raised to the level of divinities, there are a large number of beautifully described lesser mythological beings whose functions are either very limited or completely denoted by their names. Water deities are Latvian Jūras māte (“Mother of the Sea”), Ūdens māte (“Mother of the Waters”), Upes māte (“Mother of the Rivers”), and Bangu māte (“Mother of the Waves”; Lithuanian Bangpūtys), while atmospheric deities are Latvian Vēja māte (“Mother of the Wind”), Lithuanian Vėjopatis (“Master of the Wind”), Latvian Lietus māte (“Mother of the Rain”), Miglas māte (“Mother of the Fog”), and Sniega māte (“Mother of the Snow”). Even greater is the number of those beings related to human activities, but only their names are still to be found, for example Miega māte (“Mother of Sleep”) and Tirgus māte (“Mother of the Market”).

Goddess of destiny

Because of peculiarities of the source materials, it is difficult to determine whether the goddess of destiny, Laima (from the root word laime, meaning “happiness” and “luck”), originally had the same importance in Baltic religion as later, or whether her eminence is due to the specific historical circumstances of each of the Baltic peoples. In any case, a wide collection of material concerning Laima is available. The real ruler of human fate, she is mentioned frequently together with Dievs in connection with the process of creation. Although Laima determines a man’s unchangeable destiny at the moment of his birth, he can still lead his life well or badly within the limits prescribed by her. She also determines the moment of a person’s death, sometimes even arguing about it with Dievs.

The Devil

The Devil, Velns (Lithuanian Velnias), has a well-defined role, which is rarely documented so well in the folklore of other peoples. Besides the usual outer features, several characteristics are especially emphasized. Velns, for instance, is a stupid devil. In addition, the Balts are the only colonialized people in Europe who have preserved a large amount of folklore that in different variations and situations portrays the Devil as a German landlord. Another evil being is the Latvian Vilkacis, Lithuanian Vilkatas, who corresponds to the werewolf in the traditions of other peoples. The belief that the dead do not leave this world completely is the basis for both good and evil spirits. As good spirits the dead return to the living as invisible beings (Latvian velis, Lithuanian vėlė), but as evil ones they return as persecutors and misleaders (Latvian vadātājs, Lithuanian vaidilas).