Spiritual Traditions of Paganism and Christianity

During the late Iron Age (9th – 12th century) the spiritual traditions of various pagan cults were still in use in the Eastern Baltic. A variety of archaeological evidence found in the settlements and burials of this period such as the ornaments of small bronze horses and birds, or lunular pendants can be linked to religious traditions and concepts applied in practice of the local inhabitants. One of the most popular pagan idols ever found in Latvia, the so-called ‘stone head’ of Salaspils, was occasionally found in this region in the late 19th century (original item now exposed in the Dome Cathedral in Riga). Yet it has never been verified as a genuine prehistoric object or as a skillful counterfeit of some later period.

Christianization begun around 1200 by Roman-Catholic missionaries although some historians believe that the first efforts were probably made by representatives of the Orthodox Church before. In the late 12th century, activities of catholic monk Meinhard among ancient Livs around Ikšķile were successful enough to create a parish and construct the first church and castle there in 1185. At the same time orthodox parishes linked to feudal governors of Polotsk were acting in upstream region of Daugava – in hillforts of Koknese and Jersika. Objects of material culture linked to Christian liturgy like cross-shaped pendants and colored wooden eggs are found in late Iron Age burials of population in the Daugava valley showing the impact of Christianity to the local culture before systematic Christianization activities of the 13th century. Often the Christian crosses were worn along with the pagan amulets showing the syncretism of religious beliefs in everyday practice lasting for centuries ahead.