by Aldis Putelis
The Moon. In a number of texts – protector of travelers and soldiers, probably as the source of light at night.
In Latvian tradition – masculine, opposed to many other Indo-European mythologies, although there are linguistic data (G. F. Stender. Neue vollstaendige Lettische Grammatik. – Braunschweig 1761; J. Lange. Vollstaendiger lettisch-deutsches Lexicon. – 1773.) supposedly proving the feminine aspect of Meness.
by Aldis Putelis
Auseklis (ausma, “dawn”; aust “to dawn”) is a Latvian stellar (masculine) god. In astronomic interpretations usually understood as planet Venus (there is proof that Venus was called Lielais Auseklis – the Great Auseklis). He is connected with Meness (the moon), but also with Saule (the sun). In the myth of the heavenly wedding, he is one of the suitors of Saules meitas (along with Dieva deli, Meness, and other gods), but in some versions he is just one of the bride’s party. He might also be the only suitor, the mythic material is not clear enough because there is also a great number of texts with an obscure hint to Auseklis as the original bridegroom of Sun’s daughter, which is later stolen by Meness (Moon), in turn being punished by Saule or Perkons.
Witch's Well 