Story Summary
Discover the tragic Lithuanian legend of Egle Queen of Serpents, where a broken promise and a family's betrayal lead to a bittersweet, mystical transformation.
Eglė, a young maiden, found a grass snake in her sleeve after bathing. The snake, Žilvinas, would only leave if she promised to marry him. Thinking it a joke, she agreed, but soon a grand procession arrived to claim her. Taken to a palace beneath the Baltic Sea, Eglė discovered Žilvinas was a handsome prince in human form. They lived happily for years and had four children: three sons and a daughter. Longing for home, Eglė eventually asked to visit her family. Žilvinas set seemingly impossible tasks—wearing out iron shoes, spinning endless silk, and baking bread without tools—but she completed them all with magical aid. Before she left, he taught her a secret call to summon him upon her return. However, her brothers, fearing the serpent king, tortured the children to learn the secret. The youngest daughter, Drebulė, eventually betrayed it. The brothers summoned Žilvinas and killed him with scythes. When Eglė called for him and saw bloody foam rise from the waves, her heart broke. In her grief, she transformed her sons into sturdy trees—Oak, Ash, and Birch—her trembling daughter into an Aspen, and herself into a Spruce, forever rooted in the soil of her homeland.
The Moral
The violation of trust and the interference of family can destroy even the most magical bonds, leading to irreversible loss.
“If alive, may the sea foam milk; if dead, may the sea foam blood.”
Fun Fact
This story is considered one of the most archaic and complex tales in Lithuanian folklore, containing motifs that date back to prehistoric Indo-European mythology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Žilvinas in the end?
Žilvinas was murdered by Eglė's twelve brothers, who used scythes to kill him after coercing his youngest daughter into revealing the secret chant used to call him from the sea.
What do the trees represent in the story?
The trees represent Eglė and her children. Her sons became the Oak, Ash, and Birch, her daughter became the quivering Aspen, and Eglė herself became the Spruce.
Why did Eglė's brothers kill the Serpent King?
The brothers believed they were saving Eglė from a monster, acting out of a mixture of fear, prejudice, and a desire to keep her from returning to the underwater kingdom.
What tasks did Eglė have to perform to visit home?
She had to wear out a pair of iron shoes, spin a never-ending heap of silk, and bake bread without using any kitchen utensils, all of which she accomplished with the help of a wise sorceress.
What does the name Eglė mean?
The name Eglė is a common Lithuanian name that literally translates to 'Spruce,' which foreshadows her transformation at the end of the myth.
What is the cultural significance of this myth?
It is one of the most beloved Lithuanian folktales, reflecting ancient Baltic pagan beliefs about the sacredness of nature, the soul's connection to trees, and the duality of the serpent.