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Lapinkylä

Religion

1674

The preface says the Chancellor of Sweden set Schefferus to write the book. He did not travel in Lapland. In this chapter he says that in the Pite and Lule lappmarks three were worshipped: Thor, Storjunkare, and the Sun. He takes fire for an emblem of the Sun, not a god of its own, and says wood was not worshipped as wood. In the Torne and Kemi lappmarks he says one name was used, Seita. In Lule the greater was called Tiermes or Aijeke, and the lesser Storjunkar. That the names meant the same is his conclusion. This is the book’s account of the Swedish lappmarks in 1674. (Schefferus 1674)

1674. The page that names Thor, Storjunkare, the Sun, and Seita.
1674. The page that names Thor, Storjunkare, the Sun, and Seita.Drawing: Johannes Schefferus. Licence: Public domain. The image is unchanged.

The image

The book says Thor’s image was wood, with a hammer in the right hand, set on a table. There is no image of the Sun. Storjunkare is a stone, sometimes like a bird and sometimes like a man, and the name given to it is printed on the page. The stone is not polished. The book also describes a sacrifice. It is not set out here as steps. (Schefferus 1674)

1674. A wooden image with a hammer, and a stone the book calls Storjunkare.
1674. A wooden image with a hammer, and a stone the book calls Storjunkare.Drawing: Johannes Schefferus. Licence: Public domain. The image is unchanged.

A stone

A stone whose picture we may use is missing. We are asking Siida.

Sámi Museum Siida