Places-palimpsests of Saint Petersburg and their names

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of places-palimpsests in modern onomastics. Our goal is to present some onyms (especially temples' names) of Saint-Petersburg as palimpsests of the urban onomasticon. The research seems very timely due to the increased interest in sacred objects. The article will begin with an explanation of the definition of the temples’, which was proposed by N.V. Podolskaya. In Russian-language works, the term ecclesionim is used. However, it is not popular in other works. Later, the palimpsest metaphor will be explained and introduced. A palimpsest is a type of writing superimposed over an old text that has been partially worn out. Interestingly, after some time, the old text starts to show through the new one. This metaphor is actively used in geographical science, but not in onomastic research. It is important to point out that the palimpsest has many layers and contexts. The article presents a new approach to the study of onyms as texts. The latest works in the field of intertextuality of proper names are also cited. It is mainly about works by Bożena Hrynkiewicz-Adamskich and Małgorzata RutkiewiczHanczewska. In what follows part of the article, attention is drawn to the history of the name of the city of St. Petersburg. The city changed its name several times, erasing the previous one as if it were a palimpsest. The most essential part of the article is our definition of onym-palimpsest. In our opinion, it is a multi-layered name that contains various contexts and meanings. Next, we present many examples of such names in Saint-Petersburg. This article can be used for further research on urbanonymy. One could analyze not only Orthodox onyms-palimpsest but also other denominations. The research can also be extended to other cities or entire countries of the former USSR.

Keywords

• onomasticon of saint petersburg
• temple name
• city renaming
• place-palimpsest
• onym-palimpsest