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Fig. 52. Płock. The alleged pagan sanctuary, excavation site 3 (in Ihe abbey yard), layer V. 1 - a stone altar; 2-a skuli; 3-a club 4-aphallic object; 5—7 - day vessds; 8-apole; 9 - a vessel with traces of iron melting; 10-13 - fires; 14 -astcmefire-place; 15 - a horse head; 16 — i After W. Szafrański, 1983, p. 143

7. Ruthenian sanctuaries

Primary Russian Chronicie (PSRL, vol. 1, 1926, p. 9) recorded the follow-ing myth about the origins of Kiev: “There were three brothers: one was called Kiy, the other Shchek and the third Khoriv, and their sister was called Lybedz. Kiy sat at the mountain where now the Borychevsky entrance is situated, Shchek at the mountain now called Shchekovitsa, and Khoriv at another mountain, named Khorivitsa after him. And they founded a strong-hold in the name of their eldest brother and named it Kiev (...). They were wise and cautious men, they were called Polanians, after them the Polanians have lived in Kiev until today.” The original version of Primary Chronicie, preserved in the First Novgorod Chronicie, contained a further fragment: “they were pagans, they madę offerings to lakes, springs and forests, like other pagans.” The stronghold of Kiy, the mythical father of Ruthenian Polanians, appears in the myth as the centre of their domain. It is confirmed by another legend from Primary Chronicie, conceming Apostle Andrew, who allegedly erected a cross on the Kiev Mountain.

The text of the chronicie is set in a cultural context. The described place functioned as a sanctuary, as exactly over the entrance mentioned in the legend, Perun’s shrine was situated. Primary Chronicie first refers to it under the year 945, but the narrated events happened a year earlier, when prince Igor Rurikovich, having accepted a ransom, concluded a peace treaty with the Byzantine emperor. The text of the treaty, included into the chronicie, had been negotiated by Ruthenian envoys in Constantinopole. The treaty was ratifled in Kiev in the presence of the Emperor’s representatives (SSS, vol. 6, p. 130-135). On the day after their arrival, “Igor summoned the envoys and went to the hill where Perun stood, and they put their weapons there, their shields and gold, and Igor and his people - as many pagan Ruthenians as there were - swore the peace, while the Christians swore in St Elijah church, which is upon the stream... (PSRL, vol. 1, 1926, p. 54). The act of swearing is illustrated on a miniaturę from the fifteenth-century Radivillovskaya letopis (1902, 26v, cf. 16r, 45r), in which Perun is shown with a lightning in his hand (Khrenetsov, 1981). The text seems reliable, in spite of the doubts expressed by some researchers. The oath was included in the text of the treaty, copied to the chronicie probably from the Greek original.

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