POLISH LEGENDS

POLISH LEGENDS
The White Lady from the Castle of Rydzyna
Once upon a time a woman with two children was living in the castle of Rydzyna. Her
husband had been killed in a war. She wanted to get married again but the children made it
impossible so she killed them and immured them in the castle. For that act she was punished
and has still been serving the sentence.
As the legend says every year, on the eve of All Saints Day, you can meet the White Lady in
an old chapel at midnight. A ghost of a woman in white shroud can be seen in the chapel.
The priest – a skeleton starts saying the mass. There are also two skeleton altar boys. During
the mass the White Lady prays and goes to confession. She mentions all her sins and asks for
absolution. The priest replies that the time has not come yet – not in this year. Suddenly the
candles extinguish and the whole apparition disappears. But you can hear cries and quiet
footsteps in the castle.
The legend of Poznań
The Town Hall in Poznań has not always stood proud as it does today. The Swedish
invasion of Poland destroyed it and it had to be rebuilt in 1782-84. Today the Town Hall
stands rebuilt and renovated, once again a splendid example of Renaissance architecture
for all to admire. A point of attraction of the central tower is the clock, to be precise, the
strange mechanism that opens up every day at noon presenting two goats, which butt
each other for a minute or two then retire into the clock for another day. The creator of
the clock and the mechanism was Bartlomiej Wolff who constructed it in 1551 by order of
city council. With the clock and the goats comes a legend of Poznań ...
One evening in 1551 the clock master Bartlomiej Wollf finally decided to show
the city council and the citizens of Poznań his new work of art - the tower clock.
All the nobles as well as the aldermen and citizens were invited for the special
opening ceremony. Unfortunately, the meat being cooked in the kitchen for the
ceremonial dinner fell into the fire and was burnt completely! The assistant chef
was told to find new meat immediately as the dinner was just about to begin. But
it was too late: all the butchers were closed and there was no place in the whole
of Old Poznań to buy any meat. At the last moment the young assistant saw two
goats in a green pasture nearby. He grabbed them and ran to the kitchen.
The goats understood what was happening and did not want to end up in the pot
so they ran from the kitchen, climbed the stairs and jumped out of a window
right onto the building work on the Town Hall and to the high clock tower. When
the Voivode saw the goats pleased with themselves on the top of the tower he
began to laugh, and so did the nobles around him along with the townsfolk and
aldermen.
The chef was relieved that everything had turned well and everyone was in a
good humour. The lack of meat at the feast was overlooked and the Voivode
ordered a mechanism built to remind everyone of the funny event.
And today the 12 o'clock opening of the clock tower and the two goats always
draws a crowd.
The legend of Lech
Three brothers Lech, Czech and Rus were exploring the wilderness to find
a place to settle.
Suddenly they saw a hill with an old oak and an eagle on top. Lech said:
this white eagle I will adopt as an emblem of my people, and around this
oak I will build my stronghold, and because of the eagle nest (in Polish:
gniazdo) I will call it Gniezdno (in modern Polish: Gniezno).
The other brothers went further on to find a place for their people. Czech
went to the South (to found the Czech Lands) and Rus went to the East
(to create Russia).
HUNGARIAN LEGENDS
The castle of Hollókő (raven = holló; stone = kő)
In the mountain ranges of Cserhát you can see the castle of Hollókő, which is only a few steps away
from the Old Village, declared as part of the World Heritage by UNESCO.
The castle of Hollókő
Its legend of origin
According to its legend of origin, the owner of the lands in the area and lord of the earthwork on a
mount called Pusztavárhegy, a certain Kacsics András once kidnapped the beautiful daughter of a
nobleman in the neighbourhood. In order that the girl couldn’t escape, he started to have a castle
built and he locked her in the keep, the large strong tower of his castle.
However, the girl’s nanny was said to be a witch who could do magical practices and she allied with
the devil to free the girl from her prison. So on the devil’s orders his two sons became ravens night
after night and carried away all the stones of the castle to place them on the peak of a tor. The girl
kidnapped by the landlord was released, and on the peak of the huge tor today you can now see the
castle of Hollókő.
Hollókő vára
A Cserhát hegyei között az UNESCO által a Világörökség részének nyilvánított Ó-falutól alig néhány
lépésre magasodik Hollókő vára.
Eredetlegendája szerint Pusztavárhegyen álló földvár ura, a környék területeinek birtokosa Kacsics
András egy alkalommal egy szomszéd nemes ember szépséges leányát rabolta el. Hogy a lány el ne
szökhessen, az egyik hegyen várat építtetett, és annak tornyába záratta.
A leányzó dajkájáról azonban az a hír járta, hogy boszorkány, boszorkányos praktikákat tudott és
szövetkezett az ördöggel, hogy a fogságbók kiszabadíthassák a lányt. Így történt, hogy az ördög
parancsára az ördögfiak éjszakánként hollóvá változtak és holló képében az épülő vár köveit
elhordták egy közeli hegy sziklacsúcsára. A foglyul ejtett leány kiszabadult, és a vár mai helyén, a
hatalmas sziklán felépült Hollókő vára.
The castle of Boldogkő (happy = boldog; stone = kő)
Motto: ’Because legends are what it is worth living for’
After his defeat at the battle of Muhi against the Mongolians our King Béla IV was escaping towards
the river of Hernád, where he was hidden from the troops of Batu Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan,
by a gentle servant called Bodó. Of course, the Mongolian troops didn’t find the king, who was
wearing a self’s clothes. The king was very grateful to his good servant.
According to the legend, this was not the only help of Bodó’s. When Béla IV was staying in Buda and
had hard times because of the Mongolian invasion and destruction of the country, Bodó visited the
court and gave the king and his household seven wagons of food as a present. Probably his gift was
seven wagons of food because he had exactly seven daughters.
The king put it in writing that he gave the two villages of Aszaló and Bodolló as a present to his loyal
servant. In return the king had one condition: he had to build a castle at the best possible place
within five years. Bodó, who was a master of making dried food, had a very difficult job this time
because he had only made food before and the castle had to be situated at a place where the whole
area could be seen easily.
His daughters proved to be great help for him. They promised to get married to noblemen who
would build the castle for at least one year. They did so with ease, because the queen invited the
seven Bodó daughters to a ball where they danced a lot and met seven young noblemen who helped
to build the castle for one year each.
The castle of Bodókő (Stone of Bodó) was built on the rock of Bodókő, where the opening ceremony
was the wedding of the seven daughters. The new castle was visited by the king, who called it
Boldogkő (Happy Stone) because the seven beautiful daughters were really happy here.
Boldogkő vára
Mottó: "Mert a legendák olyanok, amikért élni érdemes"
IV. Béla királyunk a muhi csatában elszenvedett veresége után a Hernád folyó felé menekült, ahol az
őt üldöző Batu kán seregei elől, kedves aszalómestere, bizonyos Bodó nevezetű bújtatta el
kíséretével együtt. Persze a tatár csapat nem találta meg a jobbágy ruhába rejtett uralkodót, ezért a
király nagyon hálálkodott alattvalója segítségéért.
A legenda szerint nem csak ez volt az egyetlen segítsége derék aszalómesterünknek, hanem folytatta
jótéteményeit azzal, hogy mikor IV. Béla újra Budán tartózkodott, a királyi udvar éhínségét
enyhítendő, fellátogatott Budára hét tár szekér aszalt gyümölccsel. Gondolom én azért héttel, mert
pont hét lánya volt legendánk főhősének.
A király háláját kifejezve írásba is foglalta hogy Aszaló és Bodolló községeket ajándékba adja hűséges
alattvalójának. Persze volt egy feltétele az ajándéknak: öt éven belül a legalkalmasabb helyre várat
kell építenie, ahonnan az egész vidéket beláthatja. Ezzel a királyi keggyel bajba is került Bodó mester,
hiszen aszalt szilvából csak lekvárat lehet építeni, erősséget nem.
Lányai siettek megmentésére, kijelentve, hogy feleségül csak olyan nemesurakhoz fognak férjhez
menni, aki egy évig építik várukat, így a kiszabott öt éven belül majd csak állni fognak a falak. Így is
lett, hisz a királyné bálba hívta a hét Bodó lányt, akik csak olyannak adták kezüket, akik megígérték,
hogy egy évig várat építenek.
Így épült fel Bodókő sziklájára Bodókő vára, ahol persze a megnyitó ünnepséget a hét lány lakodalma
jelentette. S hogy a mese teljes legyen, a király névadóként Boldogkőnek nevezte el az újonnan épült
várat, mivel a hét szép lány itt volt a legboldogabb.
The castle of Füzér
The wisdom of Stephen V (legend of Füzér)
Hundreds of years before the Turkish era the Hungarian King Stephen the Fifth built the castle of
Füzér. He used to escape to this castle with his family when there were struggles for the throne. Also,
he liked this beautiful land full of wild animals in its forests. The king was in the castle when the
following happened:
Seven shepherds were coming down from the mountains of Zemplén and they got close to the castle.
One night one of the shepherds’ purse full of gold coins disappeared. The shepherd knew that the
thief was one of his companions because his fierce dogs would have frightened away any strangers.
However, all the six shepherds said they hadn’t stolen the money. They agreed to see the king, who
would do justice. The king listened to the case and said:
- Bring me seven sticks.
When he got them, he said:
- Look. I’ll cut the seven sticks the same length.
When he had done so, he gave each shepherd a stick and ordered them to engrave their initials on
their own stick. Then he said:
- The sticks are the same length. Now you can go and when you return tomorrow morning to show
me your sticks again, you will see that the thief’s stick will be one inch longer than those of the
innocent ones.
Six shepherds slept well, but the thief was worried that his stick would give himself away so he cut
one inch off his stick.
The next morning King Stephen saw immediately who the thief was. It is true none the sticks got
longer, but the thief’s stick got shorter. The money was found, and the thief got seven hits with a
stick as a punishment.
That is why Stephen the Fifth was said to be one of the wisest kings.
Füzér vára
V. István bölcsessége (füzéri legenda)
Sok száz évvel a törökkor előtt V. István magyar király építette fel Füzér várát. Trónviszályok idején
ide menekült családjával együtt. Szerette ezt a vadakban bővelkedő, gyönyörű vidéket. Róla mesélik
Füzér községben a következő regét.
Egyszer hét juhász ereszkedett le a zempléni hegyekből. Közel jártak Füzér várához, amikor éjjel az
egyik juhásznak eltűnt az arannyal teli erszénye. A juhász tudta, a tolvaj valamelyik társa kell, hogy
legyen, mert a kutyák miatt idegen nem közeledhetett szállásukhoz. Ám mind a hat társa
megesküdött, hogy nem ő volt a tolvaj. A meglopott juhász azt javasolta, menjenek együtt Füzér
várába, hadd ítéljen ügyükben a király. Úgy is lett, a király meghallgatta a panaszost, s így
rendelkezett:
- Hozzatok ide hét somfavesszőt!
Odavitték neki, akkor így folytatta:
- Nézzetek ide! A hét vesszőt egyforma hosszúra vágom.
Mikor ez megtörtént, kiosztotta a pálcájukat, s megparancsolta, hogy mind a hét juhász vésse rá
pálcájára nevének kezdőbetűjét. Aztán így szólt:
- A pálcák egyforma hosszúak. Most elmentek velük, s holnap reggel, amikor visszahozzátok, a tolvaj
pálcája egy tenyérnyivel hosszabb lesz, mint az ártatlanoké.
Hatan a juhászok közül nyugodtan aludtak, de a hetedik, a tolvaj – attól tartva, hogy a pálca valóban
elárulja, levágott belőle egy tenyérnyit, vagyis annyit, amennyit a király szavai szerint nőnie kellett.
Reggel, mikor a juhászok összegyűltek, István mindjárt látta, ki a tolvaj. A pálcák közül ugyan egy sem
nőtt meg, de a tettesé rövidebb lett. A károsult visszakapta a pénzét, a tolvajnak pedig mind a hét
vesszővel hetet vertek a talpára. Hát ilyen bölcs volt - nép szerint - V. István király.
The castle of Sárospatak (muddy = sáros; stream = patak)
The brief history of the castle of Sárospatak
In the north-east of Hungary, on the river called the Bodrog you can find the town of Sárospatak. The
landlord Perényi Péter had a keep and castle built here in 1534.
For some time it was in the property of Dobó Ferenc, the son of the heroic captain of Eger, then for a
while its owner was Balassi Bálint, who secretly married Krisztina, daughter of ‘Mr Ferenc’, having a
claim on the castle.
Later it belonged to the Lórántffy family, which Rákóczi György the First married into, so Sárospatak
became the castle of the Rákóczis. The construction of the castle was finished and had a beautiful
decoration in a Renaissance style. In revenge for the Kuruc war of independence in Hungary against
the Habsburg oppression at the turn of the 17th century, parts of the castle were exploded by the
hostile imperial troops, but the palace remained intact because it was a lodging house all the time.
A legend of the castle
There are a number of legends about the old castle, most of which are about the ‘Great Reigning
Prince’ Rákóczi Ferenc II, the leader of the Kuruc war of independence. According to one of these
legends Rákóczi Ferenc II launched raids against the imperial armed forces from the castle of
Sárospatak, and once when the Austrian soldiers were in pursuit of him on horseback, he deceived
his pursuers by having the horseshoes fixed on the bottom of his horse’s feet on the wrong way
round. The Reigning Prince was already at a safe place when the enemy soldiers saw the traces of
Rákóczi’s horse and galloped away in the opposite direction.
Sárospatak vára
Sárospatak vártörténet
Hazánk északkeleti vidékén, a Bodrog folyó mentén terül el Sárospatak városa. Perényi Péter földesúr
1534-ben itt emeltetett magának lakótornyot és palotát.
Az idők során magáénak vallhatta az egri várkapitány fia, Dobó Ferenc, majd rövid ideig Balassi Bálint,
aki titokban feleségül vette Ferenc úr leányát, Krisztinát, ezzel formálva jogot a váruradalomra.
Később a Lórántffy família birtokolta, ahová benősült I. Rákóczi György, így lett végül Rákócziaké
Sárospatak. A vár ekkoriban nyerte el végső formáját, lakórészeit a reneszánsz ízlésvilág jegyei szerint
átalakíttatták. A kuruc felkelés megtorlásaként egyes részeit felrobbantották a császári csapatok, de a
palotaszárny - mivel mindvégig lakták - megmaradt épségben.
A nép ajkán számos legenda maradt fenn az ódon várról, természetesen a legtöbb a "nagyságos
fejedelemhez" II. Rákóczi Ferenchez köthető. Az egyik szerint, a 17. század fordulóján a Magyarország
függetlenségéért vívott szabadságharc alatt II. Rákóczi Ferenc kis kuruccsapatával a sárospataki
várból rajtaütéseket hajtott végre a császári katonaság ellen. Egyszer, amikor a labancok üldözőbe
fogták a kurucok fejedelmét, hogy megtévessze üldözőit, a patkót fordítva verette fel a lovának
lábaira. Így a császári katonák az ellenkező irányba vágtattak, miközben a fejedelem biztonságba
jutott.
The castle of Diósgyőr
The brief history of the castle of Diósgyőr
Diósgyőr, hidden in the Bükk mountains, was an independent town in the medieval times but in the
20th century the neighbouring Miskolc fused it into a very large quickly developing city. If you would
like to go back to the world of the past centuries, the castle of Diósgyőr is well worth seeing.
On the basis of archeological research we know a lot about the past of this place. According to the
findings there were three fortresses in succession on the huge rock near the stream called Szinva.
After the conquest, the original settlement of the Hungarians was a timber structured early castle of
a family here before the Mongolian invasion of Hungary in 1241 and 1242. After the destruction of
the castle by the Mongolian troops, the Ákos family had another castle built on the same site. In the
1360’s Louis the Great, who had occupied even the Dalmatian coasts for Hungary, ordered that a
magnificent knight’s castle be built with four outstanding towers and he stayed in the splendid castle
with his royal court for months.
For more than a century the current queen received the castle as a wedding present from her
husband. In the 16th century the castle was transformed into a border fortress against the Ottoman
Turkish conquest and it was under siege many times. Its destruction started during the Kuruc war of
independence and in later times the residents of the city took the stones of the castle away.
According to a legend there was a hazel alder tree in the garden of the castle, under which Queen
Mary of Anjou, daughter of Louis the Great, the knight king of Hungary and Poland from 1370 (the
year Kazimir the Great died), used to meet her secret sweetheart, who was said to be a knight of
humble origin.
Diósgyőr vára
Diósgyőr vártörténet
A Bükk hegyei között megbújó Diósgyőr a középkorban önálló településként élte mindennapjait,
mígnem a XX. század hatalmas iramban fejlődő nagyvárosa, Miskolc magába nem olvasztotta. De aki
egy rövid ideig szeretne visszarepülni a távoli letűnt évszázadok világába, annak most is ajánlatos a
diósgyőri vár felé venni a lépteit.
A régészeti kutatások alapján már ismerjük eme hely múltját, miszerint három erődítmény váltotta
egymást a Szinva patak felé tornyosuló sziklán.
A honfoglalás után itt épült, gerendaszerkezetű, korai, nemzetségi várat a tatárjárás rombolta le,
helyette az Ákos família emeltetett újabb épületeket. Az 1360-as években Nagy Lajos király
parancsára négytornyos fényes lovagvárat húztak fel helyébe, itt sokszor hónapokig tartózkodott az
uralkodói udvar.
Bő évszázadon keresztül a mindenkori királynék mondhatták a magukénak nászajándékul kapva
férjeiktől. A XVI. századtól a hódító török ellen végvárrá alakították át, falai sokszor láttak ellenséges
seregeket. Pusztulása a Thököly kuruc szabadságharcban következett be, majd köveit a környékbeli
lakosság bontotta.
A hozzá fűződő múlt századi legendák szerint a várkertben emelkedett az a mogyorófa, melynek
árnyékában még Anjou Mária királynő találkozott titkos szerelmével, egy alacsony származású
lovaggal.
FINNISH LEGENDS
Olavinlinna Castle
In the 13th century Denmark, Norway and Sweden-Finland formed
the Nordic Union. Eastern border for the Union was Novgorod, and
later the Moscow Grand Duchy. The Pähkinäsaari Treaty was signed
in 1323 between Sweden-Finland and Novgorod. The borderline
passed through the Savo regions. St. Olafs Castle - Olavinlinna began to be built in 1475. The founder of the castle, Danish Knight
Erik Axelson Tott built a mighty fortress to protect the
strategically important Savo region. Fortresses task was to stifle
the Russian attacks and to ensure the Savo regions governance to
the Swedish Crown. The Pähkinäsaari Treaty's border line was not
accurately marked to terrain. The Russians believed that the castle
was built on their side of the border, and they felt disrupted by the
construction works. The builders of the castle had to first build
wooden walls to the island to shelter the work of the masons building
the rock castle. Building materials had to be brought by a patrol.
Olavinlinna Castles history is a mixture of medieval battles and
everyday chores inside castle walls. The castle lived from day to day,
and the attackers came in due time, namely when ever they wanted.
In Olavinlinna Castle there are stories told of a maiden
buried to the stone wall alive and of secret corridors
around the building. All of these stories are not necessarily
true, but some stories do have a word of truth in them. The
dearest story to me tells about the young maiden, who as a
penalty for being a traitor, was shut living to the wall. She
was in love with a soldier. When this soldier opened the
castle gates in pressure from the enemy, took the maid the
blame and salvaged the loved ones life. When knowing that if
a watchman was met sleeping during the watch, he was to be
thrown out of the window down to the stream, how much
likelier, if a man really opened the gates, he was to die!
Since the family that originally belonged to the servants of
the castle, I sometimes wonder whether that maiden
showing
true
love,
was
one
of
my
relatives.
At the burial by point of the maid, there began to grow a
beautiful rowan, which white flowers described the maiden’s
innocence and the berries were the blood of love. The rowan
is not growing in the wall anymore, but the story of the
Maidens Rowan is very much alive.
If the enemy tried to climb to the castle walls, the soldiers on top of
the wall would pour boiling tar to prevent the climbing. The new
trend, represented by the round castle towers were also a
strategically important detail. Cannonballs bounced back much more
surely than from a square tower, as were used in Finland's former
fortresses. The castle is built to a rock island surrounded by a
strongly flowing Kyrönsalmi stream, which stays open also during
wintertime, so the castle was easy to defence. Even approaching the
castle was very difficult .
One legend tells a story of the black ram. Because
Olavinlinna Castle was on the island, it was isolated from the
coast. That’s why they used to keep domestic animals in the
Castle. Ones there lived a big black ram. Black ram had very
good conditions on living, but in the end it was intention to
prepare a nice roast for the people of the Castle. This Black
ram was very cleaver and saved the Castle from the attack
of the Russian solders. Russians had surrounded Olavinlinna
Castle for several weeks. They also built rafts and wooden
ladders to conquer the Castle. Defenders of the Castle put
large tar cauldrons on the walls. The plan was to pour this
hot and steamy tar on the neck of the enemy. Underneath
those tar cauldrons were a fire and lots of steam and smoke
clouds. There were also great thunderstorm with bright
lights and loud rumbling. Suddenly Black ram walked on the
wall and get scared of very loud bang. The Black ram reared
up and looked dreadful with its red eyes gleaming, curved
horns threatening and crying loudly. Russian solders
terrified the Black ram, which looked like horned devil.
Enemies retreated fast and so was Olavinlinna Castle saved
ones again with help of the Black ram.
Olavinlinna castle was a fortress, not a palace. Therefore no court
life was seen there. Gustav II Adolf of Sweden honoured the castle
with a visit, however, in 1622. He was coming from Poland and rested
there before the journey to home in Stockholm.
The White Reindeer
According to this ancient Finnish legend on a cold winter day a
wizard changed a beautiful young girl into a white reindeer. Lots of
hunters failed to shoot the White Reindeer and were killed by her.
Before they died they saw the shape of the real girl for a moment.
One day the hunter was the girl’s lover and after a long and hard
fight they were both fatally wounded. The White Reindeer changed
back into human shape for the last moments of their lives and the
two lovers fell into each other’s arms for good. Both lovers fell
asleep
for
ever.
According to the legend the lucky people who can see the Sun, the
Moon and the White Reindeer at the same time will have all their
wishes fulfilled.
The ancient Finnish myth
about the origin of the world
The world was believed to have been formed out of a waterfowl’s egg
exploding. The sky was believed to be the upper cover of the egg,
alternately it was seen as a tent, which was supported by a column at
the north pole, below the north star.
The movement of the stars was explained to be caused by the skydome's rotation around the North Star and itself. A great whirl was
caused at the north pole by the rotation of column of sky. Through
this whirl souls could go to the outside of the world to the land of
dead, Tuonela.
Earth was believed to be flat. At the edges of Earth was Lintukoto,
"the home of the birds", a warm region in which birds lived during
the winter. The Milky Way is called Linnunrata, "the path of the
birds", because the birds were believed to move along it to Lintukoto
and back.
Birds had also other significance. Birds brought a human's soul to
him at the moment of birth, and took it away at the moment of
death. In some areas, it was necessary to have a wooden bird-figure
nearby to prevent the soul from escaping during sleep. This
Sielulintu, "the soul-bird", protected the soul from being lost in the
paths of dreams.
Waterfowl are very common in tales, and also in stone paintings and
carvings, indicating their great significance in the beliefs of ancient
Finns.
ITALIAN LEGENDS
Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo (English: Castle of the
Holy Angel), is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially
commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.
The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The
Castel was once the tallest building in Rome.
Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his
sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name.
A 15th century traveler saw an angel statue on the castle roof. He recounts that during a
prolonged season of the plague, Pope Gregory I heard that the populace, even Christians,
had begun revering a pagan idol at the church of Santa Agata in Suburra. A vision urged the
Pope to lead a procession to the church. Upon arriving, the idol miraculously fell apart with a
clap of thunder. Returning to St Peter's by the Aelian Bridge, the Pope had another vision of
an angel atop the castle, wiping the blood from his sword on his mantle, and then sheathing
it. The Pope interpreted this as a sign that God was appeased.
Castel dell’Ovo
Considered the oldest of Naples Castles, Castel dell'Ovo juts out into the bay on the tiny isle
of Megaride. The same island where Siren Partenope washed ashore after plunging herself
into the sea because she failed to lure Ulysses. The same siren that gave Naples its first
name, Partenope.
It was the infamous Roman poet Virgil (Oct 15, 70 BC - Sept 21, 19 BC) and the
legend of his magical, mythical egg however, that gave Castel dell'Ovo, the Egg
Castle its name. The legend has it that Virgil placed an egg into a glass jar, the
jar into a metal cage and hid it beneath the castle. As long as the egg remained
safe and intact, the city would too. The only flaw with this myth of course, is
that Virgil lived long before Castel dell'Ovo was actually a castle.
Today, the prison cells are long gone and the halls of Castel dell'Ovo are home to temporary
art exhibits and events like Vitigno Italia, a wine trade fair.
The Little Blue One
(Crime of Heart)
by Marzia Volpones
The Territory of Rimini, once the Malatesta Seignory, is
marked by a legend: the "Crime of Heart" to the North-West
in the Montebello fortress in the Marecchia Valley. Our
legend is titled "Crime of Heart" and it is the tale of
Azzurrina, the Little Blue One, which took place in the closeby castle of Montebello.
Azzurrina could not have found a better place than
Montebello to make her fairytale-legend-truth grow through time. Only one road leads into
the intact medieval village guarded by a fortified gate. The fortress raises solitary on the left
bank of the Marecchia in a fiercely isolated position with the river in the valley broadening
into a wide loop all around the huge rock. The military character of the place must have
been recognized even in ancient times since its name derives from Mons Belli the Mount of
War. Nowadays the mount of the most famous ghost in the area: Azzurrina or the Little Blue
One.
1375. The sun is shining brightly in this hot midsummer day. The maidens are flocking
around like bees; the big cuisine in the Montebello Castle is on work. All the servants are
bustling around for this evening party: the party of the solstice of summer. Guendalina,
daughter of Ugolinuccio Malatesta, the Master of the castle is buzzing around. Her clear
voice rejoices along the castle halls, the secret corridors and the banquet rooms. She woke
up early. Just to keep her quiet, Guendalina was given a new red rag ball as a present to play
with. She loved to play with the new gift: see it rolling, rolling... Guendalina was endowed
with a special nickname: Azzurrina, the Little Blue One. Her white hair dyed dark blue; to
disguise her "anomaly" The child was believed to have been albino, with pale skin and blue
eyes. She could do whatever she wanted but leaving the castle whose walls and halls, let her
grow up safely, protecting her from the hot sun and from the outer world.
The Little Blue One was told that the summer solstice day was special. This day the fairies
would come and see the "good children" making all their wishes come true. Azzurrina had
been longing for that day, longing for her dreams to be: to have a little mate of her age to
play with. To make time go by, Guendalina started playing with her red rag ball. She started
bouncing it, kicking it, seeing it rolling, rolling.
She was excited for the great banquet which would take place this very evening and which
she had permission to attend. She could stay up till 7 o'clock no longer, because after dark,
the fairies would disappear and the witches would rule the night. "Witches are no good for
kiddies" she was told.
"Guendalina come, come here please. I've got some to tell you." "OK, daddy, let me play
with my ball just a little bit more, please, daddy, please". I'm brave" she thought. She kicked
the ball as strong as she could. The rag ball started to roll down the stairs, through the
corridor, down and down, ever more down, down. The child's laughter was rolling down
with the ball. After some time her father asked the guards who were supposed to be keeping
watch were was Azzurrina. No one knew but they say she loved to play hide and seek, they
would find her.
The summer solstice passed on, but the Little Blue One couldn't be found. The day after the
guards searched for her in the underground passages, calling out her name. No answer, no
child was found in the dungeons. Who could hide in those dark, filthy and scary places? The
guards were ordered to search again. Day after day they did look for her. Suddenly one of
them stopped and listened. A little voice seemed to be heard coming out from the darkness
saying "dad, dad, I'm here! My rag ball..." "I found her" - thought the guard. He started to
move quickly toward the place, the torchlight hardly lightened the way in the underground
passage while the guard's shadow depicted on the wall was getting bigger and bigger and
even more frightful as he was slowly proceeding on.
Neither Guendalina, nor her red rag ball was there. The
guards failed to find Azzurrina and were condemned to
death. No death could ever replace the desperate sorrow
of the heart of the Little Blue One's father. What a crime
was losing her beloved child. What a crime for his heart.
The legend says that every five years at the summer
solstice, her slight figure holding a red rag ball in her hands
appears among the castle walls. Light footsteps, sighs and
cries are heard and her voice saying "Dad, dad, I'm here".
GERMAN LEGENDS
Roland's Drachenfels Love
From the Rhine a mighty cave be seen. It is the great crag known as the Dragon Rock.
Numeorus legends are connected with it. Some think this cave was the den of a famous
monster, who feasted daily on the tender damsels left bound near his lair, duly decked with
flowers, offered up in sacrifice.
But one day the maiden chosen by lot to appease the hunger of the dragon did not faint
away into a helpless prey, but boldly faced the monster, holding up a burning brand before
his gaping jaws. The dragon started back, lost his balance, fell into the river, and was
drowned.
The people were awed by this happening.
Another legend relates that the dragon lingered in the cave year after year, opening its jaws
to swallow ships and crew whenever an unsuspecting mariner steered his vessel too near
that dangerous shore. This went on till far into the Middle Ages, when one day the dragon
swallowed a ship loaded with nothing but gunpowder. The effect was instantaneous and
disastrous, for no sooner had the black stuff reached the pit of his stomach than it suddenly
exploded, scattering the monster's remains far and wide.
A beautiful castle, Drachenburg, was later built on this cliff, and in that stronghold lived the
Lord of Drachenfels and his only daughter Hildegarde.
A passing knight entered this castle at nightfall, claiming the hospitality of the inmates. No
sooner had he beheld the lovely young Hildegarde than he fell desperately in love with her
and resolved to win her for his wife, if possible. To produce a good impression, the knight
exerted himself to entertain both father and daughter by telling of exciting adventures by
land and sea, and in doing so he came to reveal that he was one of Charlemagne's nephews,
called Roland.
The Lord of Drachenfels now cordially pressed him to stay a few days. So it came to pass
one warm summer eve that Hildegarde walked with him through the romantic Nightingale
Valley at the foot of the castle. She listened blushingly when he passionately declarated he
loved her, and gladly promised to become his wife.
But before the lovers could be married, a messenger from Charlemagne came to summon
Roland urgently to war. Roland regretfully parted from Hildegarde, and promised to return
as soon as possible.
Time passed on, and rumous of Roland's deeds first made Hildegarde's heart swell with
pride, then came a long weary time of waiting with no tidings at all, and lastly a messenger
tearfully reported that Roland had died, fighting at Roncevaux.
At these tidings Hildegarde's heart was almost broken, so she persuaded her father to let
her enter the convent of Nonnenworth on an island in the Rhine, within sight of her home.
There she spent her time praying for the soul of her beloved. However, Roland had not
perished at Roncevaux. Sorely wounded he slowly made his way back to the castle of
Drachenfels, where he presented himself one summer evening, his heart thrilling with joy.
Almost breathlessly he asked for Hildegarde.
A few moments later the light died out of his eyes. She had taken irrevocable vows, and
he had lost her.
That same night Roland rode sadly out of the castle of Drachenfels, and when he had
reached an eminence overlooking the island of Nonnenworth, on the opposite side of the
Rhine, he slowly climbed down from his steed. Seated on a stone, he spent the night gazing
at the convent, and wondering whether the twinkling light he saw was burning in
Hildegarde's cell.
Early in the morning he decided to build an hermitage on the very spot where he sat and
spend the remainder of his life there, in watching over his beloved. This resolution was soon
put into effect. The knight Roland next disposed of all his property, laid aside armor and
sword, and put on the garb of a hermit. He now spent his time gazing continually on the
convent at his feet and at the river which flowed between him and his beloved.
One winter morning he saw the nuns march slowly into the churchyard, bearing a coffin.
His heart was oppressed with fear, for the graceful form which he had identified with
Hildegarde was missing in their ranks. At sundown the convent priest, visiting him as usual,
informed him that one of the nuns was dead, and revealed that it was Hildegarde. In
faltering tones Roland then confessed who he was, and informed the priest that when he
died he wished to be buried with his face turned toward the spot where Hildegarde lay.
Troubled by this request, the priest hastened there on the next day, only to find that
Roland lay dead with a radiant smile on his face. The priest buried him as he had requested.
The Lorelei
You have perhaps seen the picture of the maiden sitting on the rock, high above the water.
The old stories tell us that Lorelei was a maiden of wondrous beauty. She lived in the river
Rhine. All day she would hide in the river so that no one could see her; but when night came
she would climb to a high rock where she could be seen in the moonlight by all who passed
by on the river. There she would sit and sing, and comb her beautiful golden hair.
This curious maiden had a wonderful power over all who listened to her sweet singing.
The boatmen and fishermen were so enchanted by her wondrous songs that they forgot to
guide their boats, which drifted about, and were finally dashed to pieces on the rocks. So
many were lost while listening to her song, that a band of soldiers was sent to carry her off
in the darkness. When the soldiers neared the rock where the Lorelei sat singing her sad,
sweet melodies, they, too, were spellbound, and could not move.
While the men stood there, held by her magic spell, the Lorelei took off her sparkling
jewels and threw them into the river, which began to rise. When the water had reached the
top of the great rock, where she was standing, she jumped into a green chariot drawn by
horses with white manes, and vanished from the sight of the wondering soldiers who had
come to seize her. The water flowed back where it had been; the magic spell was broken;
the river Rhine flowed on peacefully as before.
Another story is that of all the suitors the Lorelei had, there was one knight that she loved
best. He wanted to go to the war to win honor and glory for her sake. She begged him not to
go; but he was determined to do so. A long time passed. No word came from the knight, and
the maiden was very unhappy.
The people declared she had caused so many to be lost in the river by her wondrous
singing, that they brought her before the magistrate. She flung herself at his feet and begged
to die, for she loved only the knight who had gone away.
The magistrate listened to her story, and bade two knights take her to a convent where
she would never be troubled any more.
They crossed the river, and drew near a huge rock, which the Lorelei asked leave to climb
and take a last look at her home.
The knights consented. As she reached the top of the rock, a boat came in sight. In it stood
a knight, clad in complete armour. At once the maiden saw it was the knight who had gone
to war, and whom she mourned as dead. With joy she called to the knight as he stood in his
boat far below her. He heard her wondrous voice calling to him, and paid no heed to his
boat, which was carried swiftly away by the strong current of the river.
Note
The Lorelei (Loreley) is a famous German legend. Heinrich Heine wrote a song about this
maid in 1822, and a statue has been erected (picture). The 132 m high Lorelei Rock sits across
the Rhine from Sankt Goarshausen and soars some 120 metres above the water line. After
leaving Switzerland, the Rhine is at its narrowest and swiftest here. A very strong current and
rocks below the waterline have caused many boat accidents. So the stretch was considered
dangerous for ships until modern times. On this rock is a huge, erotic Lorelei statue.
In the best known invention of the legend, Clemens Brentano's (1801), Lorelei falls in love
with the Count of Katzenelnbogen, who marries a girl of noble birth, and Lorelei throws
herself off the rock in despair, and thus kills herself. She then becomes a siren. Afterwards she
takes her revenge by drowning any men foolish enough to come along the river by her song,
which is related to the murmuring echo among the steep cliffs in the area.
The story dates back to the 1200s, when many believed the treasure of the Nibelungen was
buried here at the foot of the Lorelei Rock, guarded by Rhine nixies. Lorelei is the name of
one of these beautiful Rhine Maidens. According to legend they lured navigators of the river
to their doom with their alluring singing, much like Sirens of ancient Greek myth. The water
spirits also appear in Grimm tales.
Heine's Lorelei
1. Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
Dass ich so traurig bin,
Ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt,
Im Abendsonnenschein.
2. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar,
Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar,
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme,
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewalt'ge Melodei.
3. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe,
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn,
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen,
Die Loreley getan.
THE HEINZELMANCHEN
IT is not over fifty years since the Heinzelmänchen, as they are called, used to live
and perform their exploits in Cologne. They were little naked mannikins, who used
to do all sorts of work; bake bread, wash, and such like house-work. So it is said, but
no one ever saw them.
In the time that the Heinzelmänchen were still there, there was in Cologne many a
baker, who kept no man, for the little people used always to make over-night, as
much black and white bread as the baker wanted for his shop. In many houses they
used to wash and do all their work for the maids.
Now, about this time, there was an expert tailor to whom they appeared to have
taken a great fancy, for when he married he found in his house, on the wedding-day,
the finest victuals and the most beautiful vessels and utensils, which the little folk
had stolen elsewhere and brought to their favourite. When, with time, his family
increased, the little ones used to give the tailor's wife considerable aid in her
household affairs; they washed for her, and on holidays and festival times they
scoured the copper and tin, and the house from the garret to the cellar. If at any
time the tailor had a press of work, he was sure to find it all ready done for him in
the morning by the Heinzelmänchen. But curiosity began now to torment the tailor's
wife, and she was dying to get one sight of the Heinzelmänchen, but do what she
would she could never compass it. She one time strewed peas all down the stairs
that they might fail and hurt themselves, and that so she might see them next
morning. But this project missed, and since that time the Heinzelmänchen have
totally disappeared, as has been everywhere the case, owing to the curiosity of
people, which has at all times been the destruction of so much of what was
beautiful in the world. The Heinzelmänchen, in consequence of this, went off all in a
body out of the town with music playing, but people could only hear the music, for
no one could see the mannikins themselves, who forthwith got into a boat and went
away, whither no one knows. The good times, however, are said to have
disappeared from Cologne along with the Heinzelmänchen.
The little house gnomes are said to have done all the work of the citizens of Cologne
during the night, so that the inhabitants of Cologne could be very lazy during the
day. According to the legend, this went on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see
the gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the workshop to make the
gnomes slip and fall. The gnomes, being infuriated, disappeared and never returned.
From that time on, the citizens of Cologne had to do all their work by themselves.