Adrian and Ritheus facts for kids

Adrian and Ritheus is a very old story from England, written in a language called Old English. You can find it in a special old book kept at the British Library.

This story is like a game of questions and answers. It's a dialogue between two characters: 'Adrianus' and 'Ritheus'. Adrianus asks questions, always starting with Saga me, which means 'Tell me'. Ritheus answers, always saying Ic þe secge, which means 'I tell you'.

The questions are a mix of facts and riddles, and they are usually short and clear.

Where Did the Story Come From?

Many of the questions in Adrian and Ritheus are also found in another old English story called Solomon and Saturn. It's clear that these two stories are connected. About twenty of the forty-eight questions in Adrian and Ritheus are the same as in Solomon and Saturn.

Experts say Adrian and Ritheus is part of a group of "question and answer" stories. These stories are often lighter and more fun than other serious writings from that time.

Another important source for Adrian and Ritheus is a popular Latin text called Joca Monachorum. In that text, the questions start with Dic mihi, which means the same as the Old English Saga me.

A Special Question: Question 41

In question 41, Adrianus asks Ritheus: Saga me hu wæs crist acenned of maria his meder. [Tell me how Christ was born from his mother Mary.]

Ritheus answers: Ic þe secge, ðurc þæt swiðre breost. [I tell you, through the right breast.]

This answer might seem strange to us today! But long ago, people had different ideas and stories about how Christ was born. It wasn't until much later, around the year 1123, that the official church decided on one specific belief about how the Virgin Mary gave birth. Some old stories, especially from Ireland, even talked about characters being born from their mother's side. This shows how different cultures and stories influenced Adrian and Ritheus.

Names in the Story

Places in the Story

Glið

In question 6, Adrianus asks Ritheus where the sun shines at night. Ritheus gives three answers:

• On the belly of a giant whale called Leviathan.
• In a place called Hell.
• On an island called Glið.

On Glið, the story says that "the souls of holy men rest [...] until Doomsday". This sounds like a peaceful, heavenly place. Some experts think the name Glið might have come from a mistake in copying the old text, and it might have originally meant "joy" or "delight".

Malifica and Intimphonis

In question 19, Adrianus asks Ritheus about "the two men in Paradise" who are always sad and crying. Ritheus answers that they are Enoch and Elijah. Adrianus then asks where they live.

Ritheus replies: Ic þe secge, Malifica and Intimphonis; þæt is on simfelda and on sceanfelda [I tell you, Malifica and Intimphonis; that is in Simfelda and in Sceanfelda].

These names are a bit mysterious! Some scholars think Malifica might be connected to a Latin word meaning "sin" or "vice." Intimphonis and sceanfelda might also come from old Latin or Old English words that describe a place. Another idea is that sceanfelda could mean "field of spectres" or "ghosts."

Neorxnawang

The very first question in the story is: Saga me hu lange wæs Adam on neorxnawange ("Tell me how long Adam was [on the neorxnawange]").

Neorxnawang is an old English word that often means 'Paradise'. The same question about neorxnawang is also asked in the Solomon and Saturn story, showing another link between these old texts.

Animals in the Story

Belda the Fish

In question 24, Adrianus asks which creatures have both male and female parts. Ritheus answers that these are "Belda the fish in the sea [...] Viperus the serpent and Corvus the bird".

Some experts believe Belda might be a mistake in copying the text and was originally a Latin word for "beast." In ancient times, people sometimes thought that certain animals, like the hyena, had both male and female characteristics. So, "Belda" might have been a general term for a creature thought to have these qualities.

Leviathan

In question 6, when Adrianus asks where the sun shines at night, one of Ritheus's answers is that it shines "on the belly of the whale which is called Leviathan". Leviathan is a famous giant sea creature mentioned in ancient stories and myths.