Vītolēni Devil’s Watch

Description

State archaeological heritage (State Inspection for Heritage Protection, No 2454). A cult site wrapped up in tales in the ancient Imera territory. The cult significance of the place is related both to tales about the Devil and Indriķis who baptized farmers there and the stone form – a naturally formed hollow in the east – south east side of the surface. Relatively nearby are also other ancient sites — hill forts, tale sites both created by humans and nature. The length of the stone is 2.35 m, width of 2.0, height of 1.3 m. Other nearby objects: Cimpēni Hill Fort, Kocēni, Mujāni, Paistalas Devil’s Stone.

Narrative

“Once the God asked his enemy the Devil to come to visit him. The Devil dressed up, put also his watch – a stone – into his pocket. When it was already midnight but festivity was still going on, the Devil looked at his watch and a rooster started to crow, because the watch pointed at 12 already. The Devil pushed it behind his trousers in a rush, but missed and it fell in Mujāni Parish, in the Vītulēni meadow where it was situated yet in recent years, maybe even now.” Nearby is the Bērmets Hill on which in ancient times the dead were burnt. (K. Bukums in Riga. Compiled by. I. Ruberte. Valmiera County Tales (Valmieras novada teikas). 1999; J. Urtāns. 1990.) Local people say that the stone is associated with stimulating fertility and that the water accumulated in the hollow on its surface never freezes up in winter.

Status

Informācija Nacionālā kultūras mantojuma pārvaldes reģistrā.

Location

Koordinātas: 57.51972, 25.29833

Waze Google Map Sygic Car Navigation

Photo, video

Archive of the “Cult Identity” project