Navigatio Sancti Brendani

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Navigatio sancti Brendani in a late 10th century manuscript. Munich, State Library, Clm 17740, fol. 34v-35r

Navigatio Sancti Brendani (abbatis) ("The sea voyage [of the abbot] Saint Brendan") is the title of an immram (mythical travel story), which probably originated in the 9th century from the combination of Celtic legends and Christian ideas. This story, translated into several languages, has been spread throughout Europe since the 12th century. According to research by the American scholar Carl Selmer, around 120 versions have survived.

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Saint Brendan and the Sea Monster, title page of a German edition around 1460

Saint Brendan ( Latin : Brendanus , Irish : Brénaind ) was a 6th century Irish saint and head of the Clonfert monastery .

In the Navigatio Sancti Brendani , which he is said to have undertaken between 565 and 573 with twelve companions, his journey into the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland is described with a curragh . He wanted to reach the "Terra Repromissionis", a promised island in the west. On the way to this Brendan's Island , which is recorded in several medieval maps, he experiences many adventures, which are recorded in 29 chapters.

After building the boat on Saint Enda Island ( Inishmore , Aran Islands ), they sail out to sea, where after a few days they land on an island that turns out to be the largest fish in the world, called Jasconius . They also discover Monk Island, Sheep Island and Bird Island, where they meet a mysterious companion, the procurator (referred to as the steward in English translations ), who now provides them with food and drink and shows them the way. He explains to them that they have to take the same circuit to these islands for seven years. You watch the battle of two sea monsters, are attacked by the griffin , come to a floating crystal pillar (an iceberg ?), Are driven away by the inhabitants of the volcanic island with glowing cinder blocks and drive through the "coagulated sea" ( drift ice ?). Eventually they find the Isle of the Blessed, stay there for some time, and then return to Ireland. Saint Brendan tells all the confreres the adventures he has had and prophesies his imminent death, which will then also occur.

Timothy Severin's journey

The Navigatio Sancti Brendani probably played a role in the discovery of America . It can be assumed that Christopher Columbus also knew the mythical travelogue about the westward voyage of the Irish monk Brendan, which has been popular since the Middle Ages. The historian and writer Tim Severin proved with a curragh in 1977 that Saint Brendan's journey to North America was possible, as can be interpreted from the Navigatio Sancti Brendani. On May 16 (the name day of Saint Brendan) 1976 he started, in terms of material and workmanship, a perfect replica of an Irish leather curragh called Brendan from the mouth of the Irish Brandon Creeks ( County Kerry ) for a repetition of the Navigatio . With some companions, he sailed the North Atlantic in two stages - with a winter break in Iceland . On June 25, 1977, they landed in Musgrave Harbor, Newfoundland . His travel report is reminiscent of the books by Thor Heyerdahl ( Kon-Tiki and Ra ).

See also

Editions and translations

  • John J. O'Meara: The Voyage of Saint Brendan: Journey to the Promised Land. Dolmen Press, Dublin 1978 (the standard translation of the text, easily accessible through many reprints)
  • Giovanni Orlandi, Rossana E. Guglielmetti (eds.): Navigatio sancti Brendani. Alla scoperta dei segreti meravigliosi del mondo. Sismel, Firenze 2014 (critical edition with Italian translation and commentary)
  • Carl Selmer: Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis from Early Latin Manuscripts (= University of Notre Dame Publications in Mediaeval Studies. 16). The University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame (Indiana) 1959 (standard edition)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Carl Selmer: Navigatio Sacti Brendani Abbatis. (= Publications on medieval research. Volume IV). University of Notre Dame Press, Indiana 1959.
  2. ↑ English-language article from Newfoundland: heritage.nf.ca
  3. ↑ Timothy Severin: A Thousand Years Before Columbus. In the footsteps of the Irish seafaring monks. Hoffmann and Campe, Hamburg 1979, ISBN 3-455-08883-X .