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Gender Feminine
Usage Baltic Mythology
Meaning & History
The Lithuanian goddess of death, first mentioned by Matthäus Prätorius.Her name is derived from Lithuanian gelti "to sting, to stab", referring to her long, poisonous tongue which she uses to lick the poison off of gravestones and, afterwards, stab those bound to die to death with. Since she is unable to cross water, graveyards are usually separated from the village by a river or a body of water.
In folk lore, she is sometimes considered a sister - and the polar opposite - of Laima.
In folk lore, she is sometimes considered a sister - and the polar opposite - of Laima.