So you are implying that the narrative of a love affair between
celestial bodies, then, is there just there for pretty words' sake? I
think this story is a little more than coincidence (similar motifs
about Ausrine are also known). Perhaps you take the view that
folklore is just another artistic form, but it is also ritualistic
(in many calendar festivals) and in case of Lithuanian folklore -
archaic in origins. Even if the person who sung the song at the time
of its recording did not believe in the celestial bodies as beings,
certainly the people from whose time this song comes did. This is a
southern Lithuanian song (dzuku). Dzukian songs are characterized by
many archaic themes, many reflections of ancient mythology. I may
refer you to Norbertas Velius' analyses of dzukian winter solstice
(Kaledos) songs and mythological symbols and allusions therein. He
has at least lectured in this topic, perhaps he has published
something too. It does not directly relate to the evening star, but
does provide some gage to interpreting folklore on a deeper level
than just poetic devices and metaphors. These poetic forms don't just
sprout up in a barren field - there is a mythology and a world view
that are integral to the synthesis of this poetic expression.
Based on the archeological finds of observatories in Lithuania, it is
confirmed that the Balts were indeed very interested in the sky since
before Christianity. If we find traces of their interpretations of
the sky in folk culture, I don't see why we should dismiss it simply
because we cannot find a clear printed statement "there was a goddess
such and such". Not everything in myth is stated in such clear-cut
terms. I don't see anything wrong with extrapolating data from folk
songs, especially when their naratives are not so ambiguous at all.
There is definitely a deeper diachronic dimension to analyzing
folklore, which you do not seem to consider.
For more on myth in Baltic folklore, read A.J.Greimas. Although,
perhaps Velius would be enough, as far as celestial mythology in folk
songs in concerned. You might consider Greimas "too romantic." :))
Good luck.
Respectfully,
Martin
--- In cybalist@..., "Sergejus Tarasovas" <S.Tarasovas@...> wrote:
> folklore. My point was that the romantic writers too often used the
> pattern 'personified object = (automatically) deity' which, IMHO,
is
> absolutely incorrect methodologically. Males often personify a
> certain part of their body which doesn't make 'him' a deity,
> though. :))