Priesaika ar aukojimas?

LTStraipsnyje lyginami Dubno kronikoje aprašyti priesaika vadinami kunigaikščio Kęstučio ir jo žmonių veiksmai su lietuvių, taip pat kitų tautų folklore bei rašytiniuose šaltiniuose aptinkamomis priesaikomis ir aukojimo apeigomis. 1351 metais lietuvių atliktame rituale rasta ne priesaikoms būtinų elementų, bet aukojimo požymių. Daroma išvada, kad sumaniai pasirinktą aukojimo ritualo pradžią kita sutartį sudariusi šalis (vengrai) interpretavo remdamasi ne lietuvių ištartais žodžiais, bet jų atliktais veiksmais, todėl ir palaikė priesaika. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Aukojimas; Aukojimo Apeigos; Bausmė; Bausmė už priesaikos nesilaikymą; Dievai; Kunigaikštis Kęstutis; Melaginga priesaika; Priesaika; Priesaikos Sulaužymas; Ritualas; Breakage Of Swear; False oath; Gods; Grand Duke Kęstutis; Oath; Punishment; Punishment for failure to observe the oath; Ritual; Sacrifice; Sacrifice Rites; Swear.

ENQuite a number of researchers have already shown interest in the actions described by the Dubno Chronicle as allegedly performed by the Lithuanian duke Kęstutis and his men in 1351. The author of this article presents samples of oaths supplied by the ancient writings and verbal tradition, comparing the Lithuanians’ actions with the rituals of fraternization and sacrifice. She concludes that Lithuanians, whether consciously or not, had chosen actions that were considered by Hungarians as reinforcement of the written contract and interpreted as obligation to observe the oath. The actions performed by the Lithuanians and their words translated into Latin contain evidence of the sacrifice ritual. In the Dubno Chronicle, however, the completion of the sacrifice ritual is not described, since in the presence of Hungarians the Lithuanians could not consign their sacrifice to the deity, i.e. eating the bull’s flesh or burning its part. The author of the article maintains that Lithuanians had purposefully uttered the word "god", yet avoided mentioning the name of the deity. Most probably, they had Perkūnas in mind, since this word is frequently encountered in Lithuanian folklore and spoken language. Other researchers have listed many words that had been recorded by foreigners and considered to be names of the Lithuanian gods, but as a rule they lack arguments to prove that these words have indeed been theonyms. [From the publication]