Nowe Ateny: Poland’s Eccentric First Encyclopedia

 Nowe Ateny: Poland’s Eccentric First Encyclopedia

The Enlightenment era saw an explosion of intellectual energy across Europe. In France, Diderot’s Encyclopédie was redefining how knowledge was organized and shared. Meanwhile, in Poland—a nation at the crossroads of Western and Eastern Europe—Benedykt Chmielowski embarked on a similar mission. A country priest with limited access to foreign texts, Chmielowski envisioned a compendium that would educate ordinary Polish readers about the wonders of the world.  Above Photo Credit

The first volume of Nowe Ateny was published in 1745, followed by a second in 1746, and later supplemented with additional material. Its full title, Nowe Ateny albo Akademia wszelkiej sciencyi pełna (“New Athens, or the Academy of All Sciences Full”), reveals Chmielowski’s grand ambition—to create an “academy” of knowledge within the pages of a book. But unlike Diderot’s encyclopedists, Chmielowski did not rely on extensive collaboration or peer review. He gathered his information from sermons, folklore, ancient texts, and travelers’ tales, blending fact and fiction in a way that both amused and bewildered readers.

 A Patchwork of Knowledge and Imagination

Reading Nowe Ateny is a journey through the mind of a man who loved knowledge passionately, even if he didn’t always understand it precisely. Within its pages, one can find scientific facts, moral lessons, proverbs, and legends—sometimes presented side by side without distinction. For instance, Chmielowski confidently described the unicorn as a real animal and explained that the phoenix truly rises from its ashes. He also claimed that there were islands inhabited entirely by women and that comets were signs of divine wrath.

One of the most famous entries reads:

“What is a horse? Everyone sees what it is.”

This simple line has become legendary in Polish literature—a perfect example of Chmielowski’s unique blend of logic, humor, and naivety. Yet, while modern readers may laugh, it’s important to recognize that his intent was earnest. In an era when printed material was scarce and literacy limited, Nowe Ateny offered Polish speakers an accessible introduction to philosophy, geography, history, and theology—all in their own language.

Between Faith and Curiosity

Chmielowski’s encyclopedia was deeply influenced by his role as a Catholic priest. Each topic was filtered through a moral and religious lens, resulting in a fascinating tension between Enlightenment curiosity and Baroque piety. He saw the world as a divine creation filled with wonders to be admired and studied—but also as a place governed by God’s will and mysteries beyond human understanding.

For example, astronomical entries often mixed celestial mechanics with moral reflections about humility before God. Chmielowski’s attempts to explain thunder, eclipses, and earthquakes reveal both his fascination with natural phenomena and his tendency to interpret them as signs of divine power.

In this sense, Nowe Ateny stands as a mirror of 18th-century Poland—a country where modern science was beginning to take root, but faith remained the guiding principle of life. Rather than mocking Chmielowski’s errors, many historians today view his work as an authentic expression of Polish intellectual life before the Enlightenment fully arrived.

Nowe Ateny: Poland’s Eccentric First Encyclopedia

A winged dragon, circa 1277 or after. Credit: Getty

Criticism and Controversy

When Nowe Ateny first appeared, reactions were mixed. Scholars and clergy criticized it for its factual inaccuracies, awkward language, and whimsical tone. Enlightenment thinkers dismissed it as backward, even embarrassing. Yet, among ordinary readers, the encyclopedia enjoyed popularity precisely because it was approachable and entertaining. It wasn’t a cold academic treatise—it was a living document, full of personality.

Over time, Nowe Ateny became both a source of humor and national pride. Satirists and writers referenced it as a symbol of provincial ignorance, but also as a testament to the country’s early attempts to engage with modern knowledge. The entry on the horse, for instance, has entered Polish folklore as a cultural touchstone—a reminder of how language, wit, and self-deprecating humor define Polish identity.

A Reflection of Its Era

What makes Nowe Ateny enduringly fascinating is how vividly it captures a moment of transition. Poland in the 18th century was struggling politically and intellectually. The once-powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was in decline, yet its people still sought to participate in the broader European conversation. Chmielowski’s work may have been provincial, but it was also ambitious—a sign of a culture reaching outward despite its limitations.

Unlike Diderot’s encyclopedia, which celebrated reason above all else, Nowe Ateny embraced contradiction. It was both scientific and superstitious, logical and mystical. It preserved the worldview of rural clergy, where miracles coexisted with astronomy and folklore blended with theology. In that sense, it represents the Polish Enlightenment before the Enlightenment—a bridge between faith and reason, tradition and progress.

Rediscovery and Modern Appreciation

For many years, Nowe Ateny was dismissed as a curiosity, a relic of pre-modern thought. But recent scholarship has offered a more generous perspective. Historians now see it as a valuable window into the mindset of 18th-century Poland—a document that reveals what educated people believed, feared, and hoped for. It reminds us that knowledge isn’t only about facts; it’s also about imagination, language, and cultural context.

In modern Poland, Nowe Ateny has experienced a quiet revival. Excerpts are studied in literature and history courses, and its witty entries circulate online as memes and quotations. Museums and libraries proudly display early editions as artifacts of national heritage. Chmielowski himself, once mocked, is now celebrated as an eccentric genius whose flawed masterpiece helped lay the groundwork for Polish intellectual culture.

Legacy of Benedykt Chmielowski

Chmielowski died in 1763, never knowing how his encyclopedia would be remembered. Yet, his audacity—to compile a book that sought to contain all knowledge—remains inspiring. Nowe Ateny reminds us that even imperfect works can have lasting influence, especially when created with passion and sincerity. It was a product of curiosity unbound by strict academic rules, and in that freedom lies its charm.

His project embodies the timeless human desire to make sense of the world, even with limited tools. Where modern encyclopedias strive for precision, Nowe Ateny offers personality—a dialogue between knowledge and wonder, logic and belief.

Conclusion: The Charm of Imperfection

Nowe Ateny may not rival Diderot’s Encyclopédie in accuracy, but it surpasses it in character. It stands as a monument to the power of curiosity and the courage to think independently, even imperfectly. For Poland, it was the first step toward intellectual self-expression—a homegrown attempt to understand the universe through the eyes of faith, humor, and imagination.

Today, Chmielowski’s encyclopedia endures not for its errors but for its heart. In a world obsessed with information, Nowe Ateny reminds us that knowledge is also a story—a story told by people who dared to believe that wisdom could fit between the covers of a book.

References:

# “10 Quirky Quotes from Poland’s First Encyclopaedia”, Culture.pl

# “The Eccentric First Polish Encyclopedia”, VOICES magazine