Description

I set myself the challenging task of creating a cycle of drawings illustrating the ancient Lithuanian Zodiac after reading the ethnocosmologist Jonas Vaiškūnas’ book *“Reading the Signs of the Sky: Tracing the Lithuanian Zodiac.”*

The book describes twelve distinctive drawings discovered on a wooden ritual ladle, accidentally found in the basement of a church in Grodno. Based on their stylistics, the drawings are attributed to the 16th-century tradition and, “…according to the essentially unquestionable interpretation of J. Vaiškūnas, depict the ancient Lithuanian Zodiac signs.” (Dainius Razauskas)

The Zodiac is the “circle of animals,” a band of celestial creatures. Let us call it the mysterious Engraving of the Stars.

The cycle of illustrations, like the sequence of ancient drawings described in J. Vaiškūnas’ research, begins with the first sign on the handle of the ritual ladle (Arrow/Pisces).

The twelve drawings reflect both the transformation of the human body and spirit from birth to death, and the transformation of nature under the Sun.

A signed certificate of authenticity is attached.