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Elku saliņa / Idols island / Ancientsites # 23 Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

spongefinger: Vandalised. I have a suspicion the location has been made known to others. There will be new cache soon in other location.

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Hidden : 8/9/2013
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

LV Sena svētvieta - kādreiz bijusi svētozolu birzs

EN Ancient cult site - sacred oak grove


LV Viena no Valmieras pilsētas senvietām, atrodas blakus viduslaiku pils kompleksam, Lucas pilskalnam. Viduslaikos tā bijusi no visām pusēm apņemta ar ūdeni un apaugusi ar kupliem ozoliem, saliņas vidū zaļojis svētozols ar dievu tēliem, pie kura nesti upuri, no kā arī cēlies saliņas nosaukums — Elku saliņa. Valmieriešiem ir zināms nostāsts par kādreiz netālu no Elku saliņas Lucas gravā guldzošu avotiņu, kurš tika uzskatīts par dziedinošu, svētu un no kura (vai caur kuru) tecējusi Svētupīte. Apkārtnes ļaudis nākuši dziedēt acu kaites. „Elku kalniņā savā laikā atradusies senču treju lielāko dievu — Pērkona, Potrimpa un Pikola tēli. Kalniņš bijis kā dievu mājoklis. Tur tauta izsūdzējusi savas bēdas, lūgusi dievu žēlastību, tos (dievus), ceļos krizdami, pielūguši un (tiem) ziedojuši...” (W. D. Balodis, Valmiera. Vēsturisks apcerējums, ar kartēm, skatiem un Valmieras privilēģijām. 1911; K. Bukums. Vietvārdi, vēstule V. Dambei 1970. g. septembrī.)

EN One of the ancient sites of Valmiera City lies next to the medieval castle complex, Luca Hill Fort. In the medieval times it was surrounded by water and gorgeous oaks grew there, in the middle of an islet there was a sacred oak with images of deities where sacrifices were laid; this is where the name of the Idols’ Islet comes from. Valmiera inhabitants know the legend about the spring that once gurgled not far from the Idols’ Islet in the Luca ravine. The spring was considered to have healing properties and to be sacred and the Svētupīte River (the Sacred River) used to start from (or flow through) it. The local people used to heal eye diseases there. “On the Idol’s Hill there were images of the ancestors’ three greatest gods — Pērkons (the Thunder), Potrimps and Pikols. The hill was a kind of a dwelling place for the deities. There the people eased their grief, requested grace from the gods, worshipped them (the gods) standing on their knees and brought sacrifices (to them)....” (W. D. Balodis, Valmiera. A historic composition with maps, views and Valmiera privileges (Valmiera. Vēsturisks apcerējums, ar kartēm, skatiem un Valmieras privilēģijām). 1911; K. Bukums. Place Names (Vietvārdi), letter to V. Dambe in September, 1970)

LV Lai atrastu slēpni jums būs jāplūko ozoli. Kā jau svētbirzī, to ir diezgan daudz. Īpaša pazīme - žākle. Var būt nepiecašams komandas darbs:)

EN To find the cache you will have to look at the oaks. As sacred grove name suggests, there are enough those. Special sign - fork. Teamwork might be necessary:)

Additional Hints (No hints available.)