Ancient Natural Sacred Sites in Zemgale Region, Latvia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CIRCLE OF SELONIA 15 19 Longer distances of the route a cock had crowed – and that was it. It was also told are heading along asphalt roads, that once in the ancient times the Devil had pulled but access to ancient cult sites the landlord of the nearby home under the stone, mostly is available along gravel but once he was let to go no one was able to recog- 3 and forest roads nize him anymore – so long time had passed. 4 5 7 Length of the route ~ 170 km 2 PASTMUIŽA DEVIL’S STONE Koknese parish, Koknese county “There’s a saying that sacrifices for Gods were stone into the swamp, the Devil clove it in two halves. 6 SALTUPJU HOLY SPRING 2 km from Koknese, between “Rijnieki” and 3 PĻAVIŅU PETER’S STONE done and maidens were guarding sacred fire The Devil dragged half of the stone to Zasa manor. Aknīste, Aknīste county “Kalnakrogs” homes, 300 m from “Senči” home, 450 m Klintaine parish, Pļaviņu county here on altar in the pagan times. One of the Trying to fool the steward, the Devil threw the stone By “Mīkļi” home, on the left bank of the River Susēja. 1 MEĻĶĪTĀRU TROUGH STONE to the right from Riga - Daugavpils main road. The Old main road derives 1.5 km from Riga – Daugavpils maidens sinned and did not look after her dig- into Dzirnupīte to block it. However, thrown from The spring can be found by following the road signs Aizkraukle parish, Aizkraukle county stone is located on the side of the old main road, 35 m main road before Pļaviņas and 100 m before nity. She was burnt according to the holy law” (A distance, the heavy stone never reached the river; it 56º 10’ 277 25º 44’ 112 A short distance before bus stop “Augstkalni” there from it, 55 m NE from the flooded the River Daugava, “Stabulnieki” home. The stone is located on the side of legend written down by A.Bīlenšteins). In the sum- 15 BAUSKA PETER’S STONE 18 VAIĶI (NAPOLEON’S, PETER I) landed on the point of intersection of underground is a quite big country road deriving to the left from the in an open and wide meadow; Rīga–Daugavpils main this road, 80–100 m from the new main road Saltupju Holy Spring flows to meet the sun, and dif- mer of 2011, the hostess of “Ziemeļi” home Janīna Kalēju iela 2, Bauska STONE waters, where it is now. Due to unknown reasons main road Rīga – Daugavpils crossing the railway at road is visible over the meadow in distance 56º 36’ 247 25º 40’ 283 ferent legends and stories are told about that. If eyes Bičole told the following legend: “A maid owned a 56º 24’ 420 24º 10’ 863 Vīpe parish, Krustpils county the Devil was frightened to come closer to the river, “Papardes” home. The stone is visible ~ 3 km behind the 56º 37’ 624 25º 27’ 326 are washed with spring’s water in the Easter morning, castle in Mārga castle mound. Suitors came, but the In the meadows belonging to “Vaiķi” home, 55 m to The stone is surrounded by different legends. People therefore the heavy stone was never thrown into the At the beginning of the Northern War, the railway on the left side of the road, in moraine plain, on they would be clear for the rest of the year. Coins of maid already had a friend. However the suitors fought the right (direction river) from the Rīga–Daugavpils One of the most widely-known mythological stones of vicinity call this the stone of [Russian Tsar] Peter I. A river. Another legend tells that once the Devil got Russian Tsar Peter I and August II The Strong the side of former Trough swamp (now – meadow) donation were thrown, and in the ancient times dif- with each other and eventually burnt the castle down. main road and around 300 m from the right bank of in Latvia. Although the object is traditionally called legend tells that during the Northern War the Russian angry to Zasa miller, also a lord, and wanted to take the King of Poland allegedly had breakfast 56º 39’ 613 25º 12’ 168 ferent cult rituals were performed in the spring. The Daughter of Old Stupelis named Mārga was burnt alive, the River Daugava in singular, there are two different stones consid- Tsar put a silver knife and fork under the stone after revenge. So the Devil decided to block the River Zasa and even competed on this stone. According spring discharges into the River Dienvidsusēja. Bed of but her friend and baby survived. Old Stupelis stayed 56º 25’ 526 26º 04’ 554 Meļķītāru trough stone is known as an ancient site of ered one yet. Different legends with similar storyline having lunch. Sign of property of Riga archbishop is (Dzirnupīte) and flood the vicinity. The Devil dragged to some other legend the stone was put into the spring is coloured brightly orange giving it a spe- in his caste mound. Mārga’s father-in-law found a donations, children were christened by this stone. In are associated with this stone. “Devil wanted to take still visible on it – bishop’s cross and stick. The stone a big stone from the River Daugava to Zasa. By the a cart and brought over by devil A legend tells that the Devil had left the stone here. cial magic. There is a hollow stone in the spring by the big silver brooch by Mārga hill, and this brooch as ancient times the Devil is said to have drawn water a stone from the River Daugava and block the River is considered the most ancient dated landmark in morning the Devil was disturbed by cock’s song. Devil Other legends tell that the Russian Tsar Peter I and small bridge, and this hollow stone was used as a sacri- though was given to some museum. It was before from the nearby lake, poured it into the trough and Gauja, but a cock had crowed in Pasta manor and Latvia. It was concluded that Pļaviņu Peter’s Stone is threw the stone at the spot it is located now and ran Napoleon had lunch at the stone. ficial stone in the ancient times. Walkways and recrea- the age of collective-farms. There is allegedly a washed himself. He had done this until the whole the stone had fallen out of the Devil’s hands. The regarded as one out of four Lokstene landmarks with to hell. 16 tion sites are established in the vicinity of the spring. spring in Garais hill, and a coffin with treasures is lake had been drawn dry. The Devil had gone to an- stone, split into two parts, bears fingernail marks of the coats of arms of Riga archbishop and his vassal allegedly dug there. Two ladies-charmers lived by 19 AKNĪSTE (RADŽUPE, DEVIL’S) other place leaving the Trough Stone and the Trough the Devil. The stone can be found also nowadays, Vrangelis chiseled before 1437, but not earlier that at 5 DRONKU DEVIL’S STONE the hill – Bičole Marija and another one nearby. CAVE swamp behind. Another legend tells the Devil want- and it is located not far from Pasta manor.” Another the beginning of the 14th century. The stone is called 7 RITE MĀRGA HILL Rubene parish, Jēkabpils county So they both practiced magic to each other” Aknīste, Aknīste county ed to bake bread and therefore carved a trough in legend tells the Devil brought a stone to block also the Stone of Stukmaņu Pēteris. Rite parish, Viesīte county 200 m W from road Kaldabruņas–Riteniški, 150 m (Legends written down by Andris Grīnbergs). In the lower reach of the right tributary – the stone; but when he brought flour for the leaven, the River Daugava, but cock crowed and the Devil 500 m NNE from Stupeļu castle mound and 400 m SWW–W from the small Dronku graveyard, on the side the River Radžupe (21 km long) – of the River kicked the stone in two parts. WNW from “Panteļi” home 4 ZASA PARK DEVIL’S STONE of the forest 56º 08’ 315 26º 04’ 329 Dienvidsusēja, on the left bank, 1 km NE from town 56º 10’ 466 25º 28’ 214 Zasa parish, Jēkabpils county Aknīste, opposite from “Kaļķucepļi” home, around There are two interesting footprints in the flat surface 100 m N from Zasa Secondary School, 20 m from the 2 m above the water level of river of the stone; according to a legend, these footprints new sports hall, on the side of the park 56º 10’ 183 25º 46’ 176 were left by the Devil. Two adjacent footprints left 56º 17’ 633 25º 58’ 752 by the Devil while standing on the edge of the During WWI and the Soviet repression period A legend tells that in the ancient times the Devil stone together form the outline of Latvia; nearly people hid in the cave. The name Devil’s Cave is a 16 BĀRBELE SULPHUR SPRING decided to mock at Zasa steward while wandering always water collects in these footprints. Depth modern one. Bārbele parish, Vecumnieku county around. The Devil took a big stone from the River of the foot – up to 15 cm. The other footprint 2 km S from the centre of Bārbele, on the right Daugava and dragged it along Meņķu mill across is located on the W edge of the stone, and bank of the River Iecava 20 ĢEVRĀNU DEVIL’S STONE Linaites swamp (opposite side from Līvāni).