"žaltys" Grass snake vase

The wavy/squiggly symbols in my ceramics refer to žalčiai, grass snakes which are very important creatures in the Baltic tradition.

I was inspired by my visit to the House of Histories in Vilnius this past summer where I got to walk through the collection with Audronė Daraškevičienė who is a super knowledgeable ethnographer and social/cultural anthropologist. Amongst many things, I learned that on these window frame decorations you see stylized depictions of grass snakes!

In Baltic mythology grass snakes are believed to be a household spirit. This sacred animal of the Sun Goddess, Saulė is thought to be a guardian of the home and a symbol of fertility. Grass snakes would be kept as pets and placed in a special area of the home, usually around the hearth or under a married couple’s bed. With them around great fortune would follow, such as a child, a good harvest or great wealth.