Pan Twardowski

For the films, see Pan Twardowski (1921 film) and Pan Twardowski (1936 film).

Pan Twardowski (Polish: Pan Twardowski [ˈpan tfarˈdɔfskʲi]), also known as Master Twardowski (Polish: Mistrz Twardowski), is a sorcerer in Polish folklore and literature who made a deal with the Devil. Twardowski sold his soul in exchange for special powers – such as being able to summon for King Sigismund Augustus the spirit of his deceased wife – and eventually met a tragic fate.

The tale of Twardowski exists in various versions, and forms the basis for many works of fiction, including the humorous ballad "Pani Twardowska" by Adam Mickiewicz. Like the legend of Faust, it has been linked to the older Indo-European motif of The Smith and the Devil later reshaped in Christian Europe as stories of pacts with the Devil.

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