Portrimpo is a pagan Baltic sea god. Also known as Autrimpo he rules the sea, earth, grain and crops. One of the Old Prussian gods, Portrimpo may be also be a groundwater God, similar to the role Greek Poseidon takes in Arcadia.
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Potrimpo first appears as Natrimpe in 1418, in a document sent by a bishop to the Pope. The document reiterates successful conversion by Teutonic Knights of pagan Prussians, who worshiped demons Perkūnas, Potrimpo and Peckols / Patollo (Velnias).
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As a grain god Potrimpo forms a trinity or triad with thunder god Perkūnas and death god Peckols. On the Flag of King Widewuto he's shown as a young, merry man wearing a wreath of grain ears.
The bloody conquest of Prussia takes over fifty years. Unbaptized Prussians are forcefully subjugated, killed or exiled. Battles between Teutonic Knights and the Prussians are savage.
Writings of the Knights describe how the Prussians
"roast captured brethren alive in their armor, like chestnuts, before the shrine of a local god".
Seward, Desmond - The Monks of War: The Military Religious Orders
Snakes are sacred to Potrimpo. As in many cultures snakes are connected to fertility of the earth. Snakes are worshipped in the Old Prussia of the West Baltic, and according to legend, given milk. Snakes don't drink milk but grass snakes will take worms fed by hand.
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A copper idol of a twisted žaltys, or grass snake (Colubridae) dedicated to Potrimpo occupies a temple of Romuva, a neo-pagan religion based on Lithuanian lore. A house spirit, the grass snake or green snake is also sacred to sun goddess Saulė.
The Sudovian Book (1520 - 1530) an anonymous German work about customs, religion and daily life of Old Prussians, is a common historical reference. The book lists Potrimpo (Potrimpus) as god of running water and Autrimpo (Autrimpus) as god of the seas.
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The Constitutiones Synodales, a 1530 Christian religious book, compares Potrimpo with Pollux and Autrimpo with Castor and Neptune, from Roman mythology. In Mesopotamian astronomy, the two gods are warrior portal deities called the Great Twins.
Stars associated with their names are Alpha Geminorum (Castor) and Beta Geminorum (Pollux). The constellations appear in the zodiac as Gemini.
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Later authors often combine Potrimpo and Autrimpo into one deity of earth and water. In a ritual of divinitation the Old Prussians pray to Potrimpo, pour hot wax into water, and predict the future based on the shapes of wax figures.
This form of augury, carromancy or prophecy using wax, is first mentioned in c. 5 CE and appears in ancient Celtic and later Roman lore. Wax of a candle burned during a druid's vigil is poured into water.
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Prophecies appear based on shape and behavior of the wax. Carromancy also refers to divination based on to the way a candle burns, movement of the flame and meting of the wax.
Some interpretations describe Potrimpo as god of spring, happiness, abundance, cattle and grain. The name Potrimpo may come from the same root trimp as the Lithuanian verb trempti (to trample, to stomp).
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Trampling by people or animals is an ancient technique of threshing grain and relates to Potrimpo as a crop god. Some suggest the possibility of stomping to scare away evil spirits and to wake the earth in spring. Making noise is a widespread part of spring rites.
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The role of Potrimpo as god of sea and earth may be the result of two different gods merging into one. Further back in time it's possible the two gods are originally one. They split, pursue separate interests for a while, then re-unite.