Ašvieniai

Ašvieniai in Lithuanian mythology are divine twins identical to Latvian Dieva deli and direct counterparts of Vedic Asvins. Symbols and pictures of Ašvieniai are used in folk architecture, especially on the top of the roof. Placed on the roof, symbols of Asvieniai protect the house from the bad spirits. Sometimes Ašvieniai are represented as pulling Saulė’s carriage through the sky. Ašvieniai are usually displayed as horses (Lith. Ašvienis, masc. singular, noun, nominative– horse), sometimes as red roosters (symbols of fire). The Ašvieniai are the betrotheds of Saulė (Sun). One of them was a black horse – sunrise, and one afterglow. Ašvieniai have some similarities with Ūsinis (in Latvian mythology Usins), the god of horses.

Alternative names: Saulės Žirgeliai (Horses of Sun), Dievo Sūneliai (Sons of God).