Mīlakši Cult Site – the juniper and stone site

The Mīlakši Cross Stone is a stele-shaped stone — reddish granite with 9 carved crosses. It lies in the yard of the Vecmīlakši homestead. The height of the over-ground part of the stone is 1.4 m, width 0.57 m, thickness up to 0.35 m. The stone has been moved and is not located in its original place. (materials of the Monument Documentation Centre of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection) (Rauna municipality, 2012, ER). 9 crosses have been carved in the stone block. In Mīlakši surroundings there are several places which are connected with ancient traditions. In 1838 the owner of the Drusti homestead H. Hagemeisters wrote that in ancient times in Mīlakšas homestead there had been a stone where sacrifices were brought. At the end of the 19th century writer J. Upītis recorded that in his youth he himself had seen a big blue stone at the Kalna Mīlakšas homestead with a juniper on the E side. Sacrifices had been laid on the stone. At the Mīlakšas homestead there are ancient burial mounds, however, as it is stated in year 1739 documents, in the neighbouring Vīļumi homestead 13 stone idol images were liquidated. (Urtāns, 1990)