Devil’s Shoe

Description

Quite a large stone hidden under tree branches, situated right on the bank of the lake, about 10 steps from the bank. It is also called a bed. It is 2.14 m long and 1.20 m wide. At the stone a narrow stone range extends into the lake, on which one can walk into the Alauksts. This range has also been mentioned in tales. The stone, probably, is not situated in its original location. In the territory of the Protected Landscape Area “Vecpiebalga”. Nearby, probably, is the Money Hill mentioned in a tale, but it is difficult to notice it as the surroundings are overgrown with grass.

Narrative

“In those ancient times the God was working hard: making clearance, ploughing, sowing, but still could not make any money. But the Devil was spending his time in laziness. He was sleeping all day long, he even put his bed in the lake so that he would not have to go far for dwelling, could wash himself after sleep right there. Only at night he was stealing and robbing; he had already saved a barrel of money. The God decided to attract the Devil to some other task so that meanwhile he could take away the Devil’s money. The Devil had already earlier thought of constructing a bridge across the Alauksts Lake, but there was a condition set that only nine could cross the bridge, but the tenth was not allowed by the God. Now the God agreed and the Devil promised to erect the bridge during one night before roosters crowed. He left the barrel with money on the bank of the lake, but for the God not to notice it, he heaped up a cap of soil on top of it and then rushed to work. The God, seeing that his intention to take the Devil’s money had failed, let trees and grass grow on the soil that was put on the barrel with money, so that the place would not be recognized and then, to prevent the Devil from building the bridge he went to wake up a rooster. Meanwhile the Devil was working very hard. He grasped one heap of stones and dropped it in the lake. Then another one. He was there at the lake already with the third heap when a rooster crowed. When the frightened Devil was fleeing, his shoe slipped off his foot and the whole stone heap scattered on the dry land. Having forgotten about the bridge, he rushed to the barrel with money, but having run around the lake three times, he still could not find the place where he had left the money before.” (quoted from: http://valoda.ailab.lv/folklora/pasakas/gr15/15H0514.htm)

Location

Koordinātas: 57.10223, 25.77982

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Comments

Nearby is a sand hillock called the Money Hillock and a stone cairn that is, possibly, a part of the Devil’s bridge (from: vietas.lv — tale).

Photo, video

Archive of the “Cult Identity” project