LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Indoeuropiečių mitologija; Kristijonas Donelaitis; Laikas; Mitinė pasaulėžiūra; Mitologija; Tautosaka; "Metai"; Folklore; Indo-European mythology; Kristijonas Donelaitis; Mythological world-view; Mythology; Time; "Metai" ("The Seasons").
ENThis work focuses on mythical images in the narrative poem Metai (The Seasons) by the classic of Lithuanian literature Kristijonas Donelaitis (Christ. Donaleitis, Donalitius, etc., 1714-1780). Here, mythical images amount not only to prominent mythological figures, gods, demons and the like, but to mythical pictures, themes, and manifestations of the mythical worldview in general. First of all, it is Lithuanian mythology that is borne in mind. We learn about it from written historical sources and from the folklore of the recent time. Yet the mythological traditions of other Baits - the old Prussians and the Latvians -are also considered. Of special importance is the tradition of the old Prussians, the traces of which in Lithuania Minor, the land of Donelaitis, must have still been abundant in his times, although our knowledge of it is incomparably poorer. Other traditions, both close (such as Slavic or Germanic) and more distant but kindred (ancient Indian, for example) have been addressed for the sake of comparison. [...]. [From the publication]