AB Archaeologia Baltica 1392-5520 1392-5520 KU 15_072-077_WALTER 10.15181/ab.v15i1.24 Article The Ditty of Sovijus (1261). The Nine Spleens of the Marvellous Boar: An Indo-European Approach to a Lithuanian Myth Walter Philippe philippe.walter@u-grenoble3.fr ∗ Grenoble University Corresponding author. 15 72 77 20 09 2011 20 09 2011 18 12 2010 15 04 2011 16 05 2011 2011 Klaipėda University

In order to understand the narrative about Sovijus (1261), the author proposes a comparative analysis with similar myths in other Indo-European cultures: Hindu mythology (Indra), Irish mythology (Finn), and Scandinavian mythology (Sigurd). These myths emphasise the role of a sacred animal (Indra’s tricephalous monster, Finn’s salmon, Sigurd’s dragon, Sovijus’ boar with nine spleens). The animal allows the hero access to secret knowledge (divination in the case of Finn and Sigurd, revelation about cremation for Sovijus). Rituals or narratives of other folklore genres, such as tales, could be additional sources for a comparative analysis.

 etiological myth initiation ritualistic meal culture hero cremation divination