Basic Information

Plural: zalciai
Alternative spellings:

  • Zalktis (Latvian) [3]
  • Žaltys

Type: Great Serpent
Origin: Lithuanian Mythology, Latvian Mythology, Prussian Mythology, Baltic Mythology, European Mythology

About Žaltys

Various cultural groups found in the Baltic region, including the Lithuanians, Prussians, and Letts or Latvians value the Zalciai. [1] Also known in Latvian lore as the Zalktis, [3] the term 'Zaltys' refers to the snake species natrix tripodontus, [4] which are non-venomous and non-aggressive serpents indigenous to the Eastern Baltic countries. [2]

A Zaltys can be kept in the home, usually near the hearth fire, so long as those that live there care for the creature. [4] As local beliefs revere grass-snakes as Zalciai, [3] members of the household protect it. [4] As a harmless snake, [1] the Zaltys isn't dangerous to people, so it was safe to keep inside where children played. [4]

Any kept Zaltys brings prosperity to the household; [2] however, the reasons for protecting the household serpent run deeper than good fortune. An ancient belief asserts that the family's ancestors reside within the family's Zaltys; therefore, respect and deference are due. [4] The deity Pagirnis guards the Zaltys as well as the wealth of the soil. [4]

Zalaciai are also connected to agricultural prosperity and the fertility of the soil. Symbolically, the Zaltys and the World Tree are connected; thus, Zalciai is representative of the life force of Mother Earth and the growth of vegetation. [4]

One folksong refers to the Zaltys as the 'envoy of the gods,' [3] and local belief regards the Zaltys as a sign of fortune around a farmstead. [2] Even after Christianity came to the region, the belief in the grass snake persisted, despite a drastic change in tradition. [1]

Zalciai possess the knowledge of healing and herbs. Women carry dried snakes, or segments thereof, to ward off disease. [4] It is also believed that eating a Zaltys could restore sight. [4]

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Žaltys and the Sun

Saule loved all Zalciai [1] such that the sight of one dead would cause her to weep, [1,4] so if any person discovered one, they would bury it from her sight. [4] The tears of Saule are said to be the red berries on the hills. [1]

The connection between Zalaciai and Saule comes from snakes basking or sunning themselves. [4] Baltic belief regards the sun as a jug or container with its light being a golden liquid that pours out; [1] thus, Zalciai absorbs healing and life-promoting energies directly from the sun. [4] In this way, all Zalciai share a regenerating life energy with the sun. [4]

The Zaltys, as a symbol of life and energy, must never be killed. [4]

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Taboo, Tradition, and Prophecy

The Zaltys holds a special place in prophecy and tradition. [3] To kill a Zaltys is sacrilege, for they are precious to Saule [1] and associated with a family's ancestors. [4] When one encounters a Zaltys, it must be allowed to pass in peace. [4] Even a farmer encountering a Zaltys in a field refrains from harming it or even forcing it to move; instead, the farmer avoids that area of the field entirely so that the Zaltys won't be disturbed. [4]

To this day, seeing a Zaltys is considered a good omen. [4] Generally, it heralds either a birth or a marriage. [1,4]

It is considered fortunate to have a Zaltys in the home; [4] one may be tempted into a house by gifts, such as saucers of milk. [2] As a symbol of fertility, the snake resides in a special place in each house: in a corner, under a bed, or even a place at the table. [1]

When a Zaltys lived with a family, they are assured fertility, prosperity, and good fortune. [2] However, these blessings come not from the serpent itself, but from the gods, since the gods appointed the Zalciai to watch the morality of humanity. [2] Should members of the household misbehave, the Zaltys abandons them and takes its blessing with it. [2]

In Lithuanian, rooftop crossbeams are sometimes topped with carvings of Zalciai to ensure the happiness and good fortune of the family. [4]

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Physical Description

Zaltys are natrix tripodontus, which is a species of grass snake. [4]

Zaltys found deep in the woods are often grey or dark grey; however, the Zalciai in or near homes are usually green in color. [4] In either case, the snake has a distinctive crescent shape on its head. [4]

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Known Zalciai

  • The Serpent King in the Myth of Eglé, the Queen of Serpents, is a Zaltys. [4]
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Quick Facts

  • The Zalciai are primarily found in the Eastern Baltic countries. [2]
  • The term 'Zaltys' refers to snakes from the species natrix tripodontus. [4]
  • In one folksong, the zaltys are referred to as the 'envoy of the gods.' [3]
  • Encountering a Zaltys is a good omen. [1]
  • Seeing a Zaltys heralds either a birth or a marriage. [1,4]
  • Saule loves all Zalciai. [1]
  • The sight of a dead Zaltys causes Saule to weep. [1,4]
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Related Articles

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Term Reference

Pagirnis
n. Pagirnis is a Baltic household deity connected with ancestor veneration. He protects the wealth of a farm as well as the family Zaltys, where the family's ancestors were believed to reside.
Saule
n. Saule was the Latvian goddess of the sun; in Lithuanian myth, Saule was the sun personified.
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Pagirnis n. Pagirnis is a Baltic household deity connected with ancestor veneration. He protects the wealth of a farm as well as the family Zaltys, where the family's ancestors were believed to reside.
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Saule n. Saule was the Latvian goddess of the sun; in Lithuanian myth, Saule was the sun personified.
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Footnotes

  1. Cotterell [World] 193
  2. Ingpen 84
  3. Lurker 389
  4. Witte, Vilija, 'Ophiolatreia.' Link Defunct: <http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2810/zaltys.html>

For more information on footnotes and references, please see the bibliography.

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