Avoti augšzemes teikās un nostāstos

• Authors: Juris Urtāns

Title variants

EN

Upper Latvia’s tales and legends about springs

• Languages of publication: LV EN

Abstracts

EN

Springs are considerable landmarks of scenery marking both the profane and sacred landscapes. Springs are widely represented in oral tradition, however, much has been lost from the former spring-concerned traditions. Information about Upper Latvia’s tales and legends about springs have not been summarised yet. In total, 22 springs with cultural historical significance have been identified for now (Fig. 1), which can be divided into three groups. 1. Springs and castle mounds. In Upper Latvia most of the castle mounds date back to I millennium BC and the first centuries of I millennium AD, i.e. to the period when cattle-breeding played an essential role in food provision, and drinking water was vitally important. Feasibly, cattle were watered at a natural spring somewhere near the castle mound. Springs associated with a tradition are known near four castle mounds of Upper Latvia (Fig. 2). Quite probably, the older meaning of springs of castle mounds has been forgotten, but memories of them have been preserved in folklore in some conditional way. 2. Remedial springs. Springs had greater importance as remedial springs, which concerns 12 springs. The remedial role of the springs is indicated by their names, e.g. Health Spring, Ocular Spring. The ailments most frequently cured in springs were ocular diseases. A considerable number of tales have been registered about remedial springs. The remedial Saltupe Svētavots spring of Aknīste was very popular (Fig. 3). One of formerly most known remedial springs was Baltiņi Svētavots spring of Sēlpils in the overgrown bed of which archaeological test excavations were made (Fig. 4). 3. A spring as a mark of the cultural landscape. Springs have also the role of landmarks being a peculiar part of the scenery. This is indicated by special names of springs, stories about money sunk in springs which usually are associated with a much older mythological layer. One of the most significative Latvian scenery sites was Staburags rock, to a certain extent overshadowing the Liepavots spring that is located in its environs. The role of Upper Latvia’s springs has not disappeared today, nor even decreased, but maybe only transformed. A new folklore layer is being formed around springs, which includes also the former layers.

Keywords

LV

Augšzeme; folklora, avoti; pilskalni; ārstniecība; kultūrainava

EN

Augšzeme; folklore; springs; hillforts; treatment; cultural landscape

• Publisher: Latvijas Zinātņu Akadēmija
• Journal: Latvijas Zinātņu Akadēmijas Vēstis. A daļa
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 68
• Issue: 3/4
• Pages: 114-121

Contributors

author

Juris Urtāns