tolokonnyi lob

[Svetlana Rukhelman]

Dear SEELANGers,

Can someone please explain why the priest (pop) in Pushkin's fairytale, "Skazka o pope i rabotnike ego Balde", is introduced as  "tolokonnyi lob"?  Presumably because his brains are addled or porridge-like; but that seems like an awfully straightforward condemnation to place at the very start of a story, especially given that Pushkin generally prefers subtle characterization.  Might there be another reason to call a pop "porridge-head" -- perhaps of head-coverings or hairstyles traditionally worn by Orthodox priests? (Admittedly, that doesn't sound like a likely explanation either.)

Many thanks,
Svetlana Rukhelman
 		 	   		  
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