Średniowieczne znaki pielgrzymie z Einsiedeln w zbiorach Muzeum Archeologicznego w Gdańsku

Abstract

There are nine pilgrim signs from Einsiedeln (Switzerland) registered in the Collection of the Medieval Pilgrimage Souvenirs created by the author of this article among other collections in the Gdańsk Archaeological Museum. These artefacts were discovered during rescue excavations carried out systematically in Gdańsk since 1988 (Paner 1988, s. 11–88). Two of them come from the Granary Island, one of Long’s Gardens, two from Lastadia district, three from the Old Town and one of the Main Town. The badges presented in this paper commemorate the events and circumstances related to the consecration of the Benedictine monastery in Einsiedeln by Bishop Conrad of Constanta. On the night of from 13th to 14th, in 948, followed by the consecration of the chapel, Jesus Christ in person had consecrate the chapel accompanied by an angel, and the bishop after the arrival in the next day to the temple heard the words: „Do not do that – Brother – God himself consecrated the chapel!” In the literature, this type of signs is known as a „type of angel blessing” (Engelweihe) and often occurs in the form of castings on the church bells dated to the 15th century.At the end of the fourteenth century Einsiedeln was one of the most important pilgrimage centre in medieval Europe, where the first miracle observed in 1388. The popularity of this place can be evidenced by the number of pilgrim badges not less than 130 000, sold here in the year 1466 during the two weeks. Despite the seemingly large spread of these discoveries the signs found in Szafarnia (1), Granary Island (2) and Lastadia (2) are located in the major centre of the medieval port of Gdańsk. As for the contexts of finds they are the following: Granary Island: the yard and wooden granary (no residential development); Lastadia – the area of the port of the Old Motława River and the place of repair and ship construction (no residential development); Szafarnia: the new port area next to the canal of the New Motława River; Old Town: the relics of residential buildings from the late Middle Ages and early modern period, filling a small channel escaping to the river channel Radunia; Main City: relics of a residential building of the fifteenth century. Many residents of Gdańsk and Pomerania made pilgrimages to Einsiedeln but also many pilgrims were coming from other countries to Gdańsk, looking for convenient transport connections here. Perhaps the particular importance of Gdańsk as an important point on the medieval pilgrim routes of Europe, is next between several other reasons for such a large number of medieval pilgrim souvenirs from West-European Sanctuaries found here – including those from Einsiedeln.