On the involvement of DEER in "The All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters"

[William Ryan]

There is a detailed account of the Zotov wedding in book 5 of the 
Memoirs of Peter Henry Bruce, London 1782, including: '... then the 
bridegroom and bride, on an elevated sledge made on purpose, surrounded 
with cupids holding each a large horn in his hand; on the fore part of 
the sledge was placed by way of coachman, a ram with very large horns; 
and behind, was a he-goat by way of lacquey; behind them followed a 
number of other sledges, drawn by different kinds of animals, four to 
each, as rams, goats, DEER, bulls, bears, dogs, wolves, swine, and after 
them came a number of sledges, drawn by six horses each ...'

Will Ryan


On 31/12/2010 05:48, Tatiana Filimonova wrote:
>  Dear SEELANGers,
>
>  Do you know how (if at all) deer were involved in the "Vsepianeishii
>  ...sobor" of Peter I? Boris Pilniak writes "k kozlam byl priviazan
>  olen' " when he describes the wedding procession of his elderly
>  jester, elected "Prince-Pope" Zotov. Does this imply the deer
>  actually rode in the coach-seat, or was it loosely tied to the
>  coach-box and simply ran along?
>
>  The accounts of Jacob de Bie and a certain visitor from Hannover who
>  were present do not mention the deer. I wonder where Pilniak could
>  have found this description, or did he just invent it?
>
>  Also, what book would you recommend for a detailed account of Zotov's
>  mock wedding?
>
>  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated,
>
>  Tatiana Filimonova
>
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