Treść przedstawień figuratywnych na kamieniu z Leźna

• Authors: Szczepanik Paweł

Title variants

EN

The stone from Leźno and its content

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Pomerania, Poland. The stone decorated with three reliefs is definitely a unique monument. Numerous interpretations - the oldest came from the 19th century - of the meaning of these representations associated the images and whole stone with religion of the Balts, Celts, Scandinavians or Slavs. The most recent interpretation linked the monument with pre-Christian religions of the North. In this text I try to present different interpretation and describe the sculpture and all reliefs in the context of pre-Christian beliefs of the Western Slavs. The low reliefs depicted on it are associated with Svantevit (Polish Świętowit). This interpretation is based on the analysis of the forms and the meaning of images. In this context we use a comparative archaeological materials and information from written sources. All images from Leźno stone refer directly to spheres of competence of this god. Person with ornithomorphic arms is related to the supreme character of the deity which was worshiped in the temple on Arkona. The most important pagan temple on the Western Slavs territory in the 12th century was described in detail by Saxo Grammaticus. From his chronicle we have also information about meaning of two next images. The horse rider shows his relationship with the military sphere as well as Svantevit's night wanderings and fights. The figure with the horn is related to the sphere of prosperity and fertility, and the annual divination using the level of alcohol in the horn. All these elements show a direct relationship betwen stone form Leźno with Svantevit and his mythical competences. However, the boulder itself is not a statue of a deity, although it probably would be associated with his worship and may have been originally placed on Sventovit's worship site. The stone from Leźno is very fascinating piece of early medieval Slavic art and a very important element for understanding pre-Christian Slavic religion.

Keywords

PL

posągi kamienne; archeologia wczesnego średniowiecza; Słowianie Zachodni; mitologia, religie przedchrześcijańskie

EN

stone monuments; early medieval archaeology; Western Slavs; mythology; pre-Christian religions

• Publisher: Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku
• Journal: Pomorania Antiqua
• Year: 2020
• Volume: Tom XXIX
• Pages: s. 155-179

Contributors

author

Szczepanik Paweł

• Instytut Archeologii, UMK w Toruniu, ul. Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń