HERRGOTTSBERG
Herrgottsbert (Mr God's Mountain), (Click on Photo for a larger view)
Herrgottsberg is a site of a local myth. It is located in the forest near Darmstadt, Germany. Goethe , in 1772, visited the site and received inspiration (it is reported). I found it one afternoon after having arrived early for a lunch date. Finding time on my hands I decided to walk in the forest near the Bollinfaltor restaurant. I found a playground and walked around it until I saw what I thought might be a fairy mound. I climbed to the top of it and began to take photos only to find the camera battery dead after a shot or two. I decided to return again. Before I left I asked some women who were watching their children play, the name of the location. They told me Mr. God's Mountain (Herrgottsberg). "Hum...." I thought, "I will definitely be back."
TOP OF THE BERG AT HERRGOTTSBERG
The myth
A long, long time ago it was decided that a church should be built on Herrgottsberg. Each day the workman would tote wood, stones, and everything needed to build the church up the side of the moutain planning to return the next day to build the church. The next morning when they came back to resume the building they would find that it had all been carried back down to the foot of the mountain. The same thing happened for several days and the master builder grew more and more frustrated.
GUARDIAN OF HERRGOTTSBERG
The building master decided that he was going to find out what was happening. After the workers had carried all the building supplies back up the mountain, one more time, and left for the day, he hid himself in the forest nearby to see who was undoing all their hard work. About midnight he saw a black shape, which easilty took the wood and moved it back down the mountain. The building master was surprised and frightened but nevertheless came out of hiding and approaching the black shape asked it what it was doing. The black shape, who at this time the building master realized was the devil, laughed and said "Even though you want to build a church, I will prevent the work before the day starts."
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BERG
The building master, who was an intelligent man, deliberated fast and spoke, "Wolan, the house should be yours, if it is left to stand until it is finished." The devil was joyous at the idea of having his own building built for him and therefore agreed to leave the wood and stones alone so the builders could do their work and complete the project. At this point the building master ran quickly to the chuch to consult with the minister on what best could be done. With time, the builders constructed a beautiful church not knowing the "deal" between the building master and the devil. But the building master and the minister had a plan.....
Stone with Claw Marks at Hergottsberg
On the day that the church was finished while the sun was still high in the sky the church bells rang out unexpectedly. The people in the area were puzzled and hurried to gather at the church to determine what was happening. The minister stepped up to the crowd asking them to form an orderly procession up to Herrgottsberg. The minister carried a cross at the head of the procession as they walked up the path to the beautiful new church singing songs of praise and adulation. The devil was already at the church rubbing together his long hands in joy, eager for night to come. As the devil heard the procession he became more and more ill at ease. Then he saw the flash of the sun on the cross. He realized that the building master was trying to trick him and became more and more distressed. The procession passed up the hillside and entered unhindered into the chapel. The devil was very angry and picked up a huge stone and threw it into the steeple of the church. The protection of God was with the congregation and the building or surely the stone would have destroyed the church and killed everyone inside. Instead the stone bounced off the undamaged structure and lay at the side of the mountain with the claw marks of the devil imprinted on its side for all to see. The claw marks remain as a reminder to all.
HONORING GOETHE'S VISIT IN 1772
A plaque was put up in honor of Goethe by his friends. He was supposed to have received inspiration from this site.
The GREAT GOD PAN ??
This tree stump definitely has presence. After reading the myth you could almost imagine that the "black man" himself was hanging around. Or perhaps it is the Great God Pan himself. I wonder at the myth and the battle between the black man and the church. It would not surprise me if this myth were a reminder of the takeover of tradional beliefs and the "old gods" by the new "one God." Many sacred sites were assumed by the church and used for their purposes. Perhaps this is a site Sacred to the old ways and the myth is but a way of justifying that takeover. Perhaps a cataclysm of some kind did happen as the landscape was being formed and they became a symbol of the rift. The Great God Pan longs to be remembered as we return to a way of life that honors and cares for nature and all beings seen and unseen. Its nice that there is a playground nearby. From what I understand nature spirits love the laughter of children. I see them as protective spirits watching over the children as they play.
