Sudovian Book
Encyclopedia
The so-called Sudovian Book was an anonymous work about the customs, religion, and daily life of the Old Prussians
from Sambia
. The manuscript was written in German in the 16th century. The original did not survive and the book is known from later copies, transcriptions and publications. 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 Prussian mythology
is reconstructed based on this work or its derivatives.
, 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. Therefore it contained no new or valuable information and could not be considered an independent source of Prussian mythology.
Wilhelm Mannhardt
believed that Malecki only prepared previously written anonymous manuscript for publication. According to Mannhardt, the book predated and was used as a source for Constitutiones Synodales. He claimed that the book was written by Lutheran clergy – Georg von Polenz, Bishop of Sambia
, Erhard von Queis, Bishop of Pomesania
, and Paulus Speratus
, preacher of Albert, Duke of Prussia, and later Bishop of Pomesania. During the 1520s they visited different parishes, collected information about pagan beliefs, and memorialized the findings in the Sudovian Book, which was then summarized in the Constitutiones Synodales.
Lithuanian historian Ingė Lukšaitė claimed that both the Sudovian Book and Constitutiones Synodales were parts of a larger more extensive work. She noted that these works written in Renaissance
style – the author did not condemn the pagan beliefs and rituals, which was improbable if the works were prepared by Christian clergy seeking to eradicate paganism. Therefore authors cannot be ascertained.
(god of thunder and rain), Peckols (god of hell and darkness), Pockols (flying spirit or devil), Puschkayts (god of earth) and his servants Barstucke (little people) and Markopole.
The book also discussed in detail traditional weddings, funerals, and honoring of the dead. In particular, the book described ritual sacrifice of a goat by a priest (called Wourschaity) in great detail. The work describes customs of Sudovians living in Sambia
. It is known from Peter von Dusburg that 1600 and 1500 Sudovians were relocated to Sambia at the end of the 13th century. Their descendants still lived in the so-called Sudovian Corner and were known as determined believers in their pagan gods. Therefore Norbertas Vėlius
suggested that the work dealt not with Prussian, but with Sudovian gods and traditions.
Old Prussians
The Old Prussians or Baltic Prussians were an ethnic group, autochthonous Baltic tribes that inhabited Prussia, the lands of the southeastern Baltic Sea in the area around the Vistula and Curonian Lagoons...
from Sambia
Sambia
Sambia or Samland is a peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon demarcate the peninsula. Prior to 1945 it formed an important part of East Prussia.-Names:Sambia is named after the Sambians, an extinct...
. The manuscript was written in German in the 16th century. The original did not survive and the book is known from later copies, transcriptions and publications. 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 Prussian mythology
Prussian mythology
The Prussian mythology was a polytheistic religion of the Old Prussians, indigenous peoples of Prussia before the Prussian Crusade waged by the Teutonic Knights. It was closely related to other Baltic faiths, the Lithuanian and Latvian mythologies. Its myths and legends did not survive as Prussians...
is reconstructed based on this work or its derivatives.
Authorship
According to Aleksander BrücknerAleksander Brückner
Aleksander Brückner was a Polish scholar of Slavic languages and literatures , philologist, lexicographer and historian of literature. He is among the most notable Slavicists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the first to prepare complete monographs on the history of Polish language...
, 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. Therefore it contained no new or valuable information and could not be considered an independent source of Prussian mythology.
Wilhelm Mannhardt
Wilhelm Mannhardt
Wilhelm Mannhardt was a German scholar and folklorist. He is known for his work on Baltic mythology, as a collector, and for his championing of the solar theory....
believed that Malecki only prepared previously written anonymous manuscript for publication. According to Mannhardt, the book predated and was used as a source for Constitutiones Synodales. He claimed that the book was written by Lutheran clergy – Georg von Polenz, Bishop of Sambia
Bishopric of Samland
The Bishopric of Samland was a bishopric in Samland in medieval Prussia. It was founded as a Roman Catholic diocese in 1243 by papal legate William of Modena. Its seat was Königsberg, until 1523 the episcopal residence was in Fischhausen. The bishopric became Lutheran in the 16th century during...
, Erhard von Queis, Bishop of Pomesania
Bishopric of Pomesania
The Bishopric of Pomesania was a diocese in the Prussian regions of Pomesania and Pogesania. It was founded as a Roman Catholic diocese in 1243 by the papal legate William of Modena. The bishops, whose seat was Riesenburg , possessed one-third of the bishopric's territory...
, and Paulus Speratus
Paul Speratus
Paul Speratus was a Catholic priest who became a Protestant preacher and song-writer. In 1523, he helped Martin Luther to create the First Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 and called Achtliederbuch.-Early life:...
, preacher of Albert, Duke of Prussia, and later Bishop of Pomesania. During the 1520s they visited different parishes, collected information about pagan beliefs, and memorialized the findings in the Sudovian Book, which was then summarized in the Constitutiones Synodales.
Lithuanian historian Ingė Lukšaitė claimed that both the Sudovian Book and Constitutiones Synodales were parts of a larger more extensive work. She noted that these works written in Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style – the author did not condemn the pagan beliefs and rituals, which was improbable if the works were prepared by Christian clergy seeking to eradicate paganism. Therefore authors cannot be ascertained.
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 (good of light), Auschauts (god of the sick), Autrimpus (god of sea), Potrimpus (god of running water), Bardoayts (god of boats), Pergrubrius (god of plants), Pilnitis (god of abundance), ParkunsPerkunas
Perkūnas was the common Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky.-Etymology:...
(god of thunder and rain), Peckols (god of hell and darkness), Pockols (flying spirit or devil), Puschkayts (god of earth) and his servants Barstucke (little people) and Markopole.
The book also discussed in detail traditional weddings, funerals, and honoring of the dead. In particular, the book described ritual sacrifice of a goat by a priest (called Wourschaity) in great detail. The work describes customs of Sudovians living in Sambia
Sambia
Sambia or Samland is a peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon demarcate the peninsula. Prior to 1945 it formed an important part of East Prussia.-Names:Sambia is named after the Sambians, an extinct...
. It is known from Peter von Dusburg that 1600 and 1500 Sudovians were relocated to Sambia at the end of the 13th century. Their descendants still lived in the so-called Sudovian Corner and were known as determined believers in their pagan gods. Therefore Norbertas Vėlius
Norbertas Velius
Norbertas Vėlius was a Lithuanian folklorist specializing in the Lithuanian mythology.-Major works:*Mitinės lietuvių sakmių būtybės...
suggested that the work dealt not with Prussian, but with Sudovian gods and traditions.