On a wider territory of the Illyrians the cult of fertility existed, which was based on the dominant female principle of creation i.e. glorification of the Grand Mother. In close correlation with it, through various elements, there were solar and lunar cults, so called holy trinity which consisted of one male and two female deities - sun god on one side and goddess of earth and moon on the other side. The reason for that is not random which is confirmed by scientific studies according to which one man is required to impregnate hundreds of women. The female was always the more dominant bearer of fertility and life. According to medical data, statistically more male children are born than female, but the mortality rate is higher among male new-born's. In a similar manner, the percentage of mortality among mature men is higher as a result of various risk related situations which men are exposed to because of an increased hormonal activity and adrenaline rush. If we add to this the frequent wars across our planet we come to a conclusion that even nature itself made an effort to ensure a larger percentage of female population.
As we already pointed out, all three cults among the Illyrians were inseparable from each other and that's why the cult of the Grand Mother shouldn't be specifically analysed through mythology and belief tied to female symbology like the classic ones - earth, wheat, water, Moon, since without its symbiosis with the male, usually ithyphallic deity, no reproduction is possible which we can see in the myth of Tiamat and King. Even though the male role in the process of fertilization is far smaller in comparison to the cycle of pregnancy, growth of the seed and birth, it can't be minimised since it is of crucial importance which is confirmed by folk belief which states "the male grants the child strength to grow and exit the mother's womb". The term "strength" has a double meaning and behind it one can find folk meaning for sperm, but anyway, it is easily compared with the sun under whose light and warmth the entire nature grows. That the sun has kept its fatherly epithet among the folk can be seen by a belief which claims that "sun wouldn't shine in the sky if there were no orphans".
As we already pointed out, all three cults among the Illyrians were inseparable from each other and that's why the cult of the Grand Mother shouldn't be specifically analysed through mythology and belief tied to female symbology like the classic ones - earth, wheat, water, Moon, since without its symbiosis with the male, usually ithyphallic deity, no reproduction is possible which we can see in the myth of Tiamat and King. Even though the male role in the process of fertilization is far smaller in comparison to the cycle of pregnancy, growth of the seed and birth, it can't be minimised since it is of crucial importance which is confirmed by folk belief which states "the male grants the child strength to grow and exit the mother's womb". The term "strength" has a double meaning and behind it one can find folk meaning for sperm, but anyway, it is easily compared with the sun under whose light and warmth the entire nature grows. That the sun has kept its fatherly epithet among the folk can be seen by a belief which claims that "sun wouldn't shine in the sky if there were no orphans".
