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{{Short description|God in Estonian mythology}}
'''Taara''' (variations of the name include '''Tooru''', '''Tharapita''' and '''Tarapitha'''), also known as '''Uku''' or '''Jumal''',<ref>{{cite book |title=The Esthonian Review, vol 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-D9DAAAAIAAJ&q=god+Uku+Estonia |page=145 |year=1919 |publisher=Esthonian Review Office}}</ref> is a prominent god in [[Estonian mythology]], with a strong resemblance to the Finnish [[Ukko]] and the Germanic [[Thor]].
== Etymology ==
The [[Livonia]]n place name ''[[Thoreyda]]'' (also ''Thoreida'' and [[German language|German]] ''Treiden'') attested in the [[Chronicle of Livonia]] is interpreted as the 'garden of Taara – [[Thor]]' from ''Taara'' + ''*aida'' 'garden'. If this interpretation is correct, the theonym ''Taara'' was also known in Livonian.<ref>http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol26/sutrop.pdf Taarapita – the Great God of the Oeselians. Article by Urmas Sutrop</ref>
The name ''Tharapita'' has been interpreted as 'Taara, help!' ({{langx|et|Taara, a(v)ita!}}) and 'Taara's thunderbolt' ({{langx|et|Taara pikne}}).<ref>[[Lennart Meri]], (1984). "Hõbevalgem"</ref>
== History ==
The [[Chronicle of Henry of Livonia]] mentions Tharapita as the superior god of the [[Oeselians]] (inhabitants of [[Saaremaa]]), also well known to [[Vironian]] tribes in northern [[Estonia]]. According to the chronicle, when the [[Northern Crusades|crusaders]] invaded Vironia in 1220,  there was a beautiful wooded hill in Vironia, where locals believe Tharapita was born and from which he flew to Saaremaa. The hill is believed to be{{By whom|date=February 2023}} the [[Ebavere]] Hill (''Ebavere mägi'') in modern [[Lääne-Viru County]].
Tharapita also inspired an Estonian [[neopagan]] movement, known as ''[[Taaraism|taaralased]]'' or ''[[Taaraism|taarausulised]]''. In the middle of the 19th century, Taara became popular in the national movement, as an anti-German and anti-Lutheran symbol, and creators of Estonian pseudomythology made Taara the supreme god of the Estonian pantheon. From that period, Estonia's second-biggest city [[Tartu]] was poetically called ''Taaralinn'' ("city of Taara").
Taara was known by the [[Tavastians|Tavastian]] tribe of Finland. At an old cult location now known as Laurin Lähde (Lauri's Fountain) in the county of [[Janakkala]], Tavastians worshipped Taara there as late as the 18th century, eventually being shut down by church authorities.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
Tharapita may have been known among the Slavs of the island of [[Rügen]], where Danish crusaders destroyed a pagan idol named ''Turupit'' in 1168.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
The story of Taara's flight from Vironia to Saaremaa has been associated with a major [[meteor]] [[Impact event|impact]] that formed the [[Kaali crater]] in Saaremaa. One proponent of theories about the meteor and its consequences was historian [[Lennart Meri]], the president of Estonia from 1992 to 2001, who wrote several books about the subject.
Variations similar to the name "[[Thor]]" are known to many peoples who speak [[Uralic languages]]. The [[Khants]] have a god named ''Torum'', the [[Sami people|Samis]] have ''Turms'',  and the [[Samoyedic peoples|Samoyeds]] have ''Tere''. Finnish bishop [[Mikael Agricola]] mentions in 1551 a war god called ''Turisas'', although this is more likely to refer to [[Tyr|Thurisas]]; the Finns had also a god of harvest, luck and success called [[Tuuri]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
According to several medieval chronicles, Estonians did not work on Thursdays (days of Thor) and Thursday nights were called "evenings of ''Tooru''". Some sources say Estonians used to gather in holy woods (''Hiis'') on Thursday evenings, where a [[bagpipe]] player sat on a stone and played while people danced and sang until the dawn.{{Citation needed|reason=What Sources?|date=February 2023}}
==Mentions of Tharapita in Henry's ''Chronicle of Livonia''==
Tharapita is mentioned five times in the [[Chronicle of Henry of Livonia|Chronicle of Livonia]] by the [[missionary]] [[priest]] Henry. The first mention is in connection with mission in [[Virumaa|Vironia]] in the north of Estonia, the rest pertain to the conquest and baptism of the islands of [[Muhu]] and [[Saaremaa]] (Osilia) off the western coast of mainland [[Estonia]].
===Felling the statues of gods in Vironia===
Along with the first mention, Henry presents the story of Tharapita flying from a forest on top of a hill in Vironia to the island of Saaremaa. According to the chronicle, missionaries felled the images and statues of gods from the hill. The locals are said to have wondered at the fact that the statues did not bleed, which increased their belief in the priests' sermons.
''Quo audito sacerdotes modicum subridentes et excusso pulvere pedum in eos ad alias villas festinantes in confinio Vironie tres villas baptizaverunt, ubi erat mons et silva pulcherrima, in qua dicebant indigene magnum deum Osiliensium natum, qui Tharapita vocatur, et de illo loco in Osiliam volasse. Et ibat alter sacerdos succidens imagines et similitudines deorum ibi factas, et mirabantur illi, quod sanguis non efflueret, et magis sacerdotum sermonibus credebant.''<ref>Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae = Henriku Liivimaa kroonika. 1982. Traductionem paravit Richard Kleis, [[Enn Tarvel]] textum curavit et commentatus est. Tõlkinud Richard Kleis, toimetanud ja kommenteerinud Enn Tarvel. Eesti Raamat, Revalie = Tallinn, XXIV 5, p 216</ref>
===The siege of the Muhu hill fort===
According to the chronicle, Estonians besieged in the Muhu hill fort exclaimed to Tharapita in joy and cried to the sacred grove (''nemus'') for assistance, as the Christians laying siege prayed to God and exclaimed to Jesus for help.
''Gaudet exercitus christianorum, exclamant, Deum exorant. Clamant et illi, gaudentes in Tarapitha suo. Illi nemus, isti Iesum invocant, in cuius nomine ac laude fortifer ascendunt, ad summitatem valli perveniunt, fortissime et ab illis repelluntur. ''<ref>Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae, XXX 4, p 268.</ref>
===Baptism of the sons of nobles in Valjala===
As the sons of nobles are baptised in the defeated hill fort of [[Valjala]] (Waldia), Tharapita is banished from the fort:
''Dantur pueri nobilium, quorum primum venerabilis Rigensis episcopus cum gaudio et devotione magna catechizatum sacro baptismatis fonte rigavit; alii presbyteri alios rigaverunt, qui et in urbem cum gaudio ducuntur, ut Christum predicent, ut Tharaphitam, qui deus fuit Osilianorum, eiciant, qui per medium castrum fontem consecrantes et dolium replentes primo seniores et meliores cathechizatos, deinde viros alios et mulieres baptizant et pueros.''<ref>Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae, XXX 5, p 270</ref>
===Baptism of Saaremaa after victory===
Priests spread out over Saaremaa to preach Christ and banish Tharapita.
''His mysteriis in urbe Waldia celebratis venerunt nuncii, missi de cunctis urbibus et kiligundis Osilie, querentes pacem et baptismi petentes sacramentum. Gaudet exercitus obsidibusque receptis pax datur et Fraternitus amor. Dicitur, et Suecos captivos restituant liberos. Obediunt, restituere promittunt, presbyteros secum ad castra sua ducunt, qui Christum predicent, qui Tharapitha cum ceteris paganorum diis eiciant, qui populum sacro baptismate tingant. Baptizant itaque sacerdotes in omnibus castris Osilie populum universum utriusque sexus cum leticia magna et pre gaudio lacrimantes, eo quod Domino tot milia genuerunt per lavacrum regenerationis prolem spiritualem, Deo dilectam sponsam novam ex gentibus.''<ref>Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae, XXX 5, pp 270, 272</ref>
===Conclusion of the chronicle===
In the concluding passage of the chronicle, Henry expresses his joy over the fact that [[Virgin Mary]] has helped the missionaries from [[Riga]] to banish Tharapita and drown the [[Pharaoh]] (i.e., the [[Devil]]).
''Gloria Dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi et beate Marie Virginis servis suis Rigensibus in Osilia talia humiliter, obsides et tributa recipere, captivos omnes christiani nominis restituere, cum victoria redire! Quod reges hactenus non potuerunt, hec beata virgo per servos suos Rigenses breviter et leniter ad honorem sui nominis adimplevit. Quo completo, quo facto, populo videlicet cuncto baptizato, Tharaphita eiecto, Pharaone submerso, captivis liberatis, redite cum gaudio Rigenses.''<ref>Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae, XXX 6, p 272</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol26/sutrop.pdf Taarapita – the Great God of the Oeselians. Article by Urmas Sutrop]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ut.ee/CECT/image/CECT_II_Postrid/Ott_H.pdf |title=Ideal and Real Sacred Landscape: the Oak Groves of Taara |author=Heinapuu, Ott |publisher=[[University of Tartu]]}}
* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/023112/0231128886.HTM ''The "Chronicle of Henry of Livonia'''], translated and edited by James A. Brundage, Columbia University, 1961; revised 2003; 288 pages {{ISBN|0-231-12888-6}} (Try this link: http://cup.columbia.edu/search?q=henry+livonia)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081101080432/http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/henry_of_livonia_williamson.htm Ruth Williamson, "Primary Source Analysis of the ''Chronicle of Henry of Livonia''"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091205185458/http://www.historia.lv/alfabets/I/In/Indrika%20hronika/teksts/saturs_indr_hr.htm Indriķa hronika] - full text of Henry's chronicle in [[Latvian language|Latvian]] with comments.
* [http://www.junik.lv/~link/livonia/chronicles/henricus/index.htm Full text of Henry's chronicle in Russian with comments]
* [http://www.ai.ee/?pid=2655 Bibliography of Henry of Latvia]
[[Category:Estonian gods]]
[[Category:Estonian mythology]]