Lithuanian Gnome Mythology

Marcopoli

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Tradition / Region: Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: Markopols, Marcopets
Category: Gnome

The Myth

The Marcopoli are subterranean earth spirits in Prussian and Lithuanian mythology. They belong to a higher class of underground gnomes and serve Puškaitis, the god of the earth. Living beneath trees and inside the earth, they receive offerings of bread, beer, cheese, butter, and grain, which help them protect the harvest and ensure abundance.

According to one Prussian legend, the Marcopoli dwell in burrows beneath cliffs. They are described as squealing humanoid creatures with snouts like pigs or monkeys, and are said to possess a single evil eye. People were warned never to catch or steal one of their eyes.

Another legend tells that people cursed by the gods became different underground beings. Those whose inner fire was taken away became the wild, hairy Marcopoli, wandering forests and hiding in the earth, while others shrank into the smaller Barzduki, living beneath stones and underground.

Sources

Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Markopoli. In New Bestiary: Encyclopedia of Imaginary Beings. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/markopoli

Barzduki

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Tradition / Region: Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: Barzdukai
Category: Gnome

The Myth

The Barzduki are small, gnome-like beings who dwell beneath the earth. Their hidden homes lie beneath the roots of trees, where they keep stores of bread and beer in underground chambers.

These mysterious little earth spirits live unseen below the surface, guarding their underground provisions and remaining closely connected to the hidden world beneath the forests.

Sources

Baigutov, K. (2023). Kazachų ir lietuvių mitologijos lyginamoji analizė mene [Comparative Analysis of Kazakh and Lithuanian Mythology in Art]. Logos, 2023(15). https://doi.org/10.24101/logos.2023.15

Kaukas

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Tradition / Region: Lithuanian mythology
Alternate Names: Kaukutis; Kukas; Pūkis; Tranas; Vyrukas; Kūdikis; Aniuolikas
Category: Gnome, House dweller

The Myth

The Kaukas is a small mythological being in Lithuanian mythology, regarded as a spirit of fertility, harvest, and wealth. It appears as a small human-like figure, sometimes described wearing green, blue, or red clothing, and is associated with homesteads.

Kaukai may be male or female, though they are чаще described as male. They live in or visit farm buildings such as barns, granaries, or storage rooms, and increase the household’s goods. They are seen at night in moonlight or during misty days.

They may be invited or arrive on their own. When first appearing, they bring small, seemingly worthless items such as chips, hay, or splinters. If the хозяин accepts these, the kaukai begin to appear regularly.

Kaukai are mortal and can be destroyed by fire or struck by Perkūnas. They are fed with agricultural products such as bread, milk, and ritual beer, and in return they bring goods. They do not bring money, but objects and resources found in unused places or gathered from fields, as well as riches from beneath the earth.

They are connected to spring festivals later known as Užgavėnės, where masked rituals were performed. Kaukai are also associated with other similar beings such as barstukai and bezdukai, and are sometimes described as underground or dwelling beneath water, emerging to help good people.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Kaukas. In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 1, 2026, from https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaukas.