Bearslayer Part 27

Salaspils [Su-luss-pills]: A town on the Daugava where the Germans had already built a castle prior to the arrival of Albert.

Saulite [Sow-lee-tu]: The Sun-G.o.ddess, wife of the Moon. At Midsummer she wore a headdress of red blossoms and danced on the hilltops in silver shoes. To honour her, at Midsummer human women wore similar braided wreaths in their hair, and walked through the fields singing songs to her- see "Ligo".

Sereniete [(Se-re-nee-e-te]: A witch, who a.s.sisted Spidala to throw Bear- slayer down into the whirlpool of Staburags.

Six-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on the Enchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.

Spidala [Spee-du-lu]: The beautiful daughter of Aizkrauklis. She was a witch who had entered into a pact with the Devil, but escaped with Bearslayer's help.

Staburadze [Stu-boo-rud-zu]: A G.o.ddess who lives in a Crystal Palace beneath the whirlpool of Staburags.

Staburadze's gla.s.s: A mirror given to Bearslayer by the G.o.ddess Staburadze. Evildoers who look into it see the face of Perkons, and are frozen with terror.

Staburadze's maidens: Beautiful and especially virtuous young women, who live for a time with Staburadze to be educated.

Staburags [Stu-boo-rugs]: A high cliff above the River Daugava with a whirlpool at its foot.

Strangers The German knights sent to christianize Latvia , especially those sent by Innocent III under the leaders.h.i.+p of Albert.

Talvaldis [Tarl-vull-diss]: A Latvian leader; second-in-command to Bearslayer (although hardly mentioned in the poem).

Three-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on the Enchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.

Tikla [Tick-lu]: The G.o.ddess of Virtue.

Turaida [Too-rye-du]: A Latvian stronghold on the River Gauja NE of Riga, where Kaupa was the Latvian Lord; across the river from Dabrels's stockade.

Uzin? [Oo-zinysh]: The G.o.d ("patron saint") of Bees (and Horses).

Vaidelots [Vye-de-lwots]: The Messenger of the G.o.ds, who brings news from them (from Romove) to mortals.

Viduveds [Vid-oo-vads]: A man of legendary wisdom, who lived in the sixth century; also known in Prussian legends.

Witch (Old Witch): A crone who had authority over the younger witches in the Devil's Pit. She was the mother of the Three-, Six- and Nine-Headed Demons on the Enchanted Isle.

Ziemelis [Zee-em-ell-is]: The North Wind; hostile to human beings.

Zunda [Zuhn-da]: Narrow straits between the Estonian island of Saaremaa and the Kurzeme Peninsula (i.e., on the Estonia-Latvia border).