Template:Short description Template:Baltic religion Template:For Gabija (also known as Gabieta, Gabeta) is the spirit of the fire in Lithuanian mythology. She is the protector of home and family. Her name is derived from gaubti (to cover, to protect)<ref name=gimbu/> or from St. Agatha (Template:Langx, Gafiya).<ref name=bojtar/> Gabija is only mentioned in a list of Lithuanian gods by the Christian theologian Jan Łasicki in his treatise on idolatry (published in 1615). She is found in Lithuanian folklore.<ref name=bojtar/>
Gabija could take zoomorphic forms of a cat, stork or rooster,<ref name=gimbu/> or she could appear as a woman clothed in red.<ref name=trink/> Gabija was greatly respected and cared for like a living creature. People would feed Gabija by offering bread and salt.<ref name=gimbu/> Fire had to be laid to bed – women would cover the charcoal with ashes every evening so that fire would not wander around.<ref name=gimbu/> Just as Gabija was the protector of the house, mother of the household was the protector of fire.<ref name=johns/> Sometimes a bowl of clean water would be left near the hearth so that Gabija could wash herself.<ref name=trink/> If angered, Gabija would "go for a walk" burning the house. Much folklore describes the ill fate of those who offended Gabija by stomping, spitting, or urinating on her.<ref name=trink/>
Matka Gabia is the Lithuanian goddess of the home, hearth, and patron of their care. She most likely originates from Gabija.
In microbiology the name Gabija, shortened to Gaj, has been attributed to a genome.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Fact
See alsoEdit
- List of Lithuanian gods and mythological figures
- Nëna e Vatrës – a similar figure in Albanian mythology and folklore