Sudovian Book
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The so-called Sudovian Book
Modern scholars disagree on the origin and value of the book. Despite doubts about its reliability, the book became popular and was frequently quoted in other history books. Much of the
Authorship
According to the Polish scholar Aleksander Brückner,[2] the book originated from letters written around 1545 by Protestant priest Hieronymus Malecki using information from Constitutiones Synodales published in 1530. The letters were expanded and translated by Malecki's son, who published the Sudovian Book in 1561.[3] Therefore, it contained no new or valuable information and could not be considered an independent source of Prussian mythology.[2]
The German philologist
Lithuanian historian Ingė Lukšaitė claimed that both the Sudovian Book and Constitutiones Synodales were parts of a larger, more extensive work.[2] She noted that these works were written in the Renaissance style, describing but not condemning pagan beliefs and rituals, which was improbable if the writers were Christian clergy seeking to eradicate paganism.[2]
Content
The book included a list of Prussian gods, sorted in a generally descending order from sky to earth to underworld: Ockopirmus (chief god of sky and stars), Swayxtix (god of light), Auschauts (god of the sick), Autrimpus (god of sea),
The book also discussed in detail traditional weddings, funerals, and honoring of the dead.[4] In particular, the book described a ritual sacrifice of a goat by a priest (called Wourschaity) in great detail.
Notes
- ^ The full title varied greatly between different copies of the manuscript. The title of the printed version is usually given as Warhafftige Beschreibung der Sudawen auf Samlandt sambt jhren Bockheyligen vnd Ceremonien (Truthful Description of Goat Sacrifice and Ceremonies by Sudovians from Samland). The manual copies were usually titled Der Vnglaubigen Sudauen ihrer Bockheiligung mit sambt andern Ceremonien, so sie tzu brauchen gepflegeth (The Goat Sacrifice by the Unbelieving Sudovians Along with Other Ceremonies which They Are in the Habit of Performing).
References
- ^ ISSN 1392-737X.
- ^ ISSN 0235-716X.
- ISBN 963-9116-42-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-5-420-01470-7.