Devil’s Stone from the Slate pine-forest

2020-02-18 In Cult Identity Latvia Stone Zemgale region

Location

State: Latvia
Region: Zemgale
County: Jēkabpils
Parish: Rubenes

Other references to the location

On the Western side of Slate pine forest, into the forest, aside of an old, overgrown quarry, 90 m direction N from the gate on the existing quarry road, 50 m direction NNW from the same road before it leads into the quarry.

Coordinates

lat=56.2047222222, lon=25.9422222222
56° 12′ 16″ N, 25° 56′ 31″ E

Description

Dimensions of the stone: length – 3,20 m, width – 1,3 m, height – 2,4 m, circumference – 8,30 m, volume – 5 m3. Next to it lies a split-off: 2,2 x 1,4 x 0,8 m. Dark grey gneiss.

Narrative

The Devil’s Stone and its name has been studied by Mara Urtane and Juris Urtans in 2010. According to a legend a Devil had lived in the vicinity of Slate, while in Maslate – a witch had lived in one of the homes. People from Slate vicinity were deemed devilish. The witch had bothered the Devil all the time, and the Devil decided to take revenge. He had found a large stone and had carried it to the witch’s house wishing to throw it on the house and kill the witch. A cock had crowed on the way, and he had not managed to get to the witch’s house; therefore he had left the stone behind and had run into the Ezerpurvs bog. Due to the saving cock, the house of the witch, which is located direction W from Slate pine forest, were later called – ‘Gaili’ (in Latvian – the ‘Cocks’).

Attraction

Well-shaped, but average by size. Meaningful title and legend.

Availability

Minor difficulties to access it, but may be hard to find looking for alone, without exact address or coordinates, or an accompanying person knowing its location. The road is closed by a barrier; distance by feet – approximately 90 m.

Infrastructure, management, facilities

No tourism infrastructure in direct vicinity. Nearest town – Akniste, where one shall find tourism infrastructure: a shop, a catering site, and sightseeing objects.