| . | Lithuanian Ethnoastronomy 9. The place of the Moon in the Ethnocosmological system It is possible to define from the above that in the pre-Christian Lithuanian world view the Moon had qualities to affect strongly the material elements of the nature. It could be guessed that the Moon in the Lithuanian Cosmology had to belong to the lowest sphere of cosmos. This conclusion belongs also to G.Beresnevičius in his analysis of the posthumous life in the skies (Beresnevičius 1990, 120-122). It is possible that the localization of the Moon in the lowest sphere of cosmos was reflected in the cosmological symbols of the old calendars that reached us too. For example, in the structure of the iron crosses or in the Valiulis stone (Molėtai area) composition reflecting the symbols of the heavenly bodies. Her crescent of the Moon is really positioned lowest. The sun is above it and still higher the stars in the shape of the cross. The stars for Lithuanians are associated with the human soul there for it was considered that they should be lodged in the highest hardly attainable sphere of cosmos (Vaiškūnas 1991, 35-37). The Sun here takes the position of the intermediary as if connecting the Moon and the stars the material element with the spiritual. In this way it asserts her position of the life provider and the patron of all feminine element. It is interesting that G.Beresnevičius' guess is that the name Valiulis, Valys could have been previously given to the transporter of the souls into the posthumous world situated in the sky. The skies to quote the author could be localized in the lower sphere of the Moon (Beresnevičius 1990, 117 125). Though Lithuanian ethnoastronomical material gives far more information about the Moon than about the other heavenly bodies, we believe that in the pre-Christian Lithuania the Sun and the Stars were given no less importance than the Moon. When the old transcendental system began to deteriorate the higher transcendental levels of knowledge depleted more rapidly while the lower levels those that bore importance for the agricultural activities remained.
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