Abstract
This paper draws a chronological timeline comparing burial customs and construction traditions in the cradle of Christian religion, and pagan traditions on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, precisely Lithuania, since the early ages of Christianity (1c. A.D.) until nowadays. This paper searches for reasons that could have effected cultural transformations, a shifting relation between inhumation and incineration in European culture. In the Ancient Roman culture, people used to cremate their dead before Christianity set in. Baltic pagans at the time were burying their dead in stone circles, and started incineration only during the Middle Ages. Then Christianity was a powerful institution indoctrinating European daily culture. Meanwhile, in the territory of Lithuania pagan culture was erased only in the 15th century, i.e. about 600 years ago, leaving evident vestiges on traditions and customs of nowadays. These revelations of pagan culture are usually mistaken as Christian or Catholic. The paper focuses on architectural and urban aspects of burial architecture, taking into account social and historical conditions. Santrauka Straipsnyje sugretinami pagoniškieji ir krikščioniškieji laidojimo ritualai ir architektūrinės konstrukcijos. Remiantis istoriniais duomenimis, akivaizdu, kad krikščionybės išplitimas padarė įtaką pagoniškųjų kraštų laidojimo ritualams ir architektūrinei išraiškai. Akivaizdu ir tai, kad pagonybė taip pat paliko pėdsakus krikščioniškoje kultūroje. Organiškas šių skirtingų kultūrų elementų santykis yra ilgo kultūrų gretinimo pavyzdys. Lietuvos teritorijoje pagoniškosios kultūros liekanų itin gausu. Straipsnyje chronologiškai apžvelgiama, kaip kito laidojimo ritualai Lietuvos teritorijoje ir koks jų santykis su laidojimo tradicijomis krikščioniškosios kultūros lopšyje, apimančiame seniausius krikščioniškuosius kraštus. Ieškoma priežasčių, kodėl vienos ar kitos laidojimo konstrukcijos kito, koks jų ryšys su miesto teritorija ir kontekstu apskritai.
Highlights
The study presents observations and chronological notes on burial traditions and constructions in two different corners of Europe – the Eastern Baltic coast, inhabited by the Aestian tribes, including a tribe that today is called Lithuanians, and the cradle of Christianity – the Mediterranean coast.First and foremost it must be noted a very different urban development in these two areas
CHRISTIAN still burying in old pagan cemeteries graveyards taken out of urban territory revival of cremation only famous gures are cremated rst Christian cemetery in Vilnius burial constructionsbarrows stone circles rst incinerations timeline: years 0 no more burials in urban territory graveyards outside the cities revival of cremation burying by churches, in city territory charnel houses by the churches burying in sacred places, by temples incinerations, burial monuments aound the city burying along the roads to city
Graves are full of flowers, and every visit brings a candle to celebrate pagan rites that survived until the 15th century as a part of Lithuanian pagan culture
Summary
The study presents observations and chronological notes on burial traditions and constructions in two different corners of Europe – the Eastern Baltic coast, inhabited by the Aestian tribes, including a tribe that today is called Lithuanians, and the cradle of Christianity – the Mediterranean coast. Though basing on the idea of possible “same ethnical trunk”, presented by Banyte-Rowell (2001: 30), it is important to juxtapose architectural customs of different cultures Romans were burying their dead in the city territory until 450 B.C. Following the Law of the 12 Tables burial houses were constructed along the access roads to Rome. At that time the Baltic tribes underwent one more transformation in their burial tradition: the 9th century marked the beginning of cremation ritual This mode of burying can be identified as one of the cornerstones of Lithuanian statehood and solidarity of different tribes that managed to maintain their culture in the forthcoming 400 years and extend their territory to the Black Sea. Usually pagans were cremated in the place where they died (Girininkiene 2004: 7). This aspect distinguishes the Baltic tribes from Roman society in many aspects, especially, as mentioned before, in terms of urban development and social lifestyle
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