Onfim

Bri's picture

Onfim of Novgorod was a resident of said town in the late medieval period. He is remembered historically because a number of his juvenile writing exercises have survived, in the form of incised birchbark, a medium Commonly used in the region, it seems that medieval Novgorod had a high literacy rate. 

      writen when he was about 8 years old the scribbles and drawings that accompany his more formal exercises are delightful. In one he draws a strange imaginary animal, either eating grass or breathing fire and has written next to it "I am a wild beast". I can easily  imagine this to be lttle Onfims reaction to his tutor laments...