Nowe Ateny: Poland’s Eccentric First Encyclopedia

 The Nowe Ateny (New Athens), published in 1745 by priest Benedykt Chmielowski, holds a unique place in history as the first Polish encyclopedia. While it was intended to be a scholarly work that provided knowledge to the masses, it has become remembered more for its eccentric, humorous, and often bizarre entries. Today, Nowe Ateny is celebrated as both a milestone in Polish literature and a fascinating example of 18th-century thought.

The Origins of Nowe Ateny

Benedykt Chmielowski was a parish priest from the village of Firlejów, located in what is now Ukraine but was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time. He believed in spreading knowledge and saw the need for a Polish-language encyclopedia that could serve clergymen, landowners, and ordinary readers. His vision was ambitious: to collect all available knowledge of the world and present it in a single reference work.

The result was the multi-volume encyclopedia Nowe Ateny, albo Akademia wszelkiej scjencji pełna (“New Athens, or the Academy Full of All Sciences”), first printed in 1745.

The Content and Style

Unlike modern encyclopedias, Nowe Ateny combined scholarly facts with folklore, myths, and personal opinions. Chmielowski included information on geography, history, philosophy, natural science, and religion. However, many entries reflected the limited scientific knowledge of the time.


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

For example, one famous line describes the camel: “A camel is a horse designed by God for a Turk.” Another entry explains that storks spend the winter on the moon. Such quirky definitions have made the encyclopedia a cultural treasure rather than a strictly scientific text.

Chmielowski’s writing style was straightforward but also infused with humor and moral lessons. He often relied on second-hand sources, legends, and anecdotes, which gave the encyclopedia a colorful but unreliable character.

Impact on Polish Culture

Despite its flaws, Nowe Ateny played an important role in Polish intellectual history. It was the first attempt to create a comprehensive reference book in Polish, making knowledge more accessible to readers who did not understand Latin, which was still the dominant scholarly language at the time.

The encyclopedia also reflects the intellectual environment of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Enlightenment period. While Western Europe was advancing in scientific methods, Poland’s scholars still relied heavily on tradition and religion. Nowe Ateny captures this transitional moment, where faith and folklore blended with curiosity and learning.

Legacy of Nowe Ateny

Today, Nowe Ateny is often cited not for its accuracy but for its eccentric charm. It is studied by historians, linguists, and literary scholars as an example of early Polish literature and as a cultural artifact. The encyclopedia has also become a source of humor, with many of its unusual entries quoted in Polish pop culture and satirical works.

In modern times, Nowe Ateny has been digitized and preserved, allowing new generations to explore its pages. It stands as a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge, even with imperfections, is a valuable part of cultural progress.

The story of Nowe Ateny: Poland’s eccentric first encyclopedia is both amusing and historically significant. While it may not have met the standards of scientific rigor, it was groundbreaking in its mission to spread knowledge in the Polish language. Its mix of fact, myth, and imagination makes it a timeless piece of cultural heritage, proving that even the quirkiest works can leave a lasting legacy.