Prillwitz Idols

The Prillwitz idols are a large number of bronze figurines and bronze relief plates allegedly found in the late 17th century. The first publication about them, in 1768, further claimed that the figurines found by the village of Prillwitz (now part of Hohenzieritz) came from a pagan shrine in Rethra, a major town of Polabian Slavs, and Prillwitz is the location of Rethra."Słowo o bałwankach przylwickich", in: ,
Kamienie mikorzyńskie
', Kraków, 1896 A detailed description was published in a 1771 book by Andreas Gottlieb Masch, with illustrations by Daniel Woge. Andreas Gottlieb Masch, Daniel Woge (illustrations)
Die gottesdienstlichen Alterthümer der Obotriten aus dem Tempel zu Rhetra am Tollenzer See
1771 Nowadays they are recognized as an archaeological forgery.

History

While the story was questioned from the very beginning, many experts believed their authenticity, and disputes about them continued well into the 19th century. Finally, with the progress in research techniques in archaeology have led to the conclusion that the technique of some of the molds was from recent times, while others, while being apparently authentic, had no evidence of the connection with Slavic peoples.Sfalšowani přibohojo Słowjanow
, 2005

Nowadays Slavic neopagans insist that further research may confirm their authenticity.

Figurines

The find contained over 180 idols, instruments and metal utensils. Masch's book presented 66 illustrations (some objects presented in several figures). Count Jan Potocki subsequently described over 118 more. With a few exceptions each idol was inscribed with a name in runic characters.William Bell
''Shakespeare's Puck, and his folklore''
1852 Those figurines who are supposedly to represent pagan gods have lion heads. From this Piekosiński concludes that these figurines could not be made by Polabian Slavs of pagan times, since they hardly saw lions.
Masch mentioned the following names:
*Temple gods (Tempelgötter)
** Radegast: Figure 1 p. 51, Figure 2, p. 56, Figure 3
** Podba, Fig. 4
**Podaga, Fig. 5
** Percunust, Fig. 6 =? Perkunas
** Nemisa, Fig. 7
** Zislbog, Fig. 8, Zislbocg =? Chislobog
** Ipabocg, Fig. 9
** Zibog, Fig.11
** Schwaixtix Fig. 13 =? SwiatowitIgnác Jan Hanuš, ''Die Wissenschaft des slawischen Mythus im Weitesten, den altpreussisch-lithauischen Mythus mitumfassenden sinne: Nach Quellen bearbeitet, sammt der Literatur der slawisch-preussisch-lithauischen Archäologie und Mythologie''
search for Schwaixtix
1842
** As?ri, Fig. 14
** Sieba, Fig. 15
**Zernebocg, Fig. 17 =? Chernobog
*Other
**Lelus und Polelus, Fig. 20 = Lel and Polel
**Der Herbstgott, Fig. 25
** Zirnitra, Fig. 34
** Wodan =? Odin
** Balduri =? Baldr
** Misizla, Fig. 63
** Plusso
** Zois, Fig. 62
**Ein Opfermesser der Swantewit, Fig. 50 = Sacrificial knife of Swiatowit

02018 0515 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg, Radegast
02018 0525 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg, Triglav
02018 0510 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg
02018 0516 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg
02018 0527 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg
02018 0532 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg
02018 0534 slavic apocrypha, the Prillwitz idols 1794, Mecklenburgischen Volkskundemuseum – Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß.jpg
Piekosiński - Kamienie mikorzyńskie - Tabl. IV A. Perkunust.jpg , Perkunust

Notes

References

{{Authority control

Archaeological forgeries
Fakelore
Slavic neopaganism
Religious hoaxes