Widewuto

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The purported flag of Widewuto

Widewuto (also Viduutus, Vidvutus, Witowudi, Waidewut, Vaidevutis) was a legendary king of the

Kriwe-Kriwajto) Bruteno in the 6th century AD. They are known from writings of 16th-century chroniclers Erasmus Stella [de], Simon Grunau, and Lucas David.[1] Though the legend lacks historical credibility, it became popular with medieval historians. It is unclear whether the legend was authentically Prussian (i.e. recorded from Prussian mythology) or was created by Grunau (possibly inspired by Biblical Moses and Aaron),[2] though Lithuanian researchers tend to support its authenticity.[3]

Names

Widewuto's name is found in literature in different forms: Veijdenutus, Vydevutis, Vidowuto, Viduutus, Waidewut, Wejdewut, Wenedut, Widewuto, Widewutte, Widiwutus, Wydowudo, Wydowudus, Widowuto, Wydowuto, Widowutus, Witoud, Witoudo, Witouito, Witowudus, Witowuto, Wotowudo, Vaidevutis (modern Lithuanian emendation). As for his brother Bruteno, his name is also written in many ways: Brudeno, Bruteno, Brutenus, Brutheno, Brutteno. Belarusian scholar Siarhiej Sanko interprets their names as "Widow's Son" and "Brother".[4]

Legends

According to the legend, Widewuto and Bruteno were kings of the

Kriwe-Kriwajto) in charge of religious life. Widewuto had twelve sons, whose names were memorialized in the districts of Prussia. For example, Lithuania was named after eldest son Litvas, Sudovia after Sudo, etc. Aged 116, Widewuto burned himself together with Bruteno in a religious ceremony at the temple of Romuva. After their deaths the brothers were worshiped as god Wurskaito.[1]

Flag

Widewuto had a white flag, measuring five by three

Patrimpas, was portrayed as a young beardless man wearing a wreath of grain ears.[7] The flag also displayed mysterious symbols. Several linguists have unsuccessfully attempted to decipher the writing hoping to discover an ancient Prussian writing system.[6]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-5-420-01470-7
    .
  2. OCLC 3065458
    .
  3. ^
    ISSN 1392-2831
    .
  4. ^ SAŃKO, Siarhiej, and Aliaksej Shota. "PODSTAWOWE SKŁADNIKI BIAŁORUSKIEJ NARRACJI SAKRALNEJ W PERSPEKTYWIE PORÓWNAWCZEJ." Politeja, no. 22 (2012): 179-811. Accessed March 3, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24920134.
  5. ISBN 978-5-420-01470-7
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 963-9116-42-4
    .
  7. ISBN 0-520-02378-1
    .

Further reading
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