Witch's croup and "Witch's circle" - what do these unusual sculptures depict in Germany (7 photos)

A naked witch in the German city of Thale is part of the sculptural composition, but she is often described completely off topic.








Allegedly, the meaning is that the view of this woman from behind is very attractive, but it is worth getting around it, like all crazy thoughts out of my head immediately fly out - on the face she is exactly a witch, as they are represented in fairy tales.



Very cute spider

Many try to explain this with a philosophical idea, they say, everything in life has a downside, it can be a hoax, it's not worth it "be led" by temptations, but it is better to face the truth, etc.

In fact, the situation is different - to understand this, it is enough to take an even more sober look at the pose of a witch - she clearly pushing the stone, and not leaning against it in anticipation of a miracle.

Well, if you look at the whole composition - yes, this a woman does not hang out there alone - it’s generally clear that the plan authors was not to illustrate the theme of dualism in our lives. Because that we can see a circle of stones, on a pair of which two more are sitting "colleagues" of the witch - one is quite recognizable for us, and the second is not very.



The witch is rubbed for happiness on the nose and mouse

But let's start from the beginning: the whole composition is called "Witch circle", in addition to the witch, it includes two more sculptures - the devil (well, or devil) and a homunculus, which, apparently, is recognizable for connoisseurs of German folklore (Homunculus is artificially bred by alchemists test tube man).

This is how the composition is described in German guidebooks, explaining the essence of this story to overly excitable tourists. And the plot, by the way, is not very harmless.

These two on the stones, as it were, invite passers-by to come to them - go into their stone circle. And the witch, like a real strong woman, pushes the last stone to complete the circle.



The devil and the homunculus invite tourists to the stone circle

This scene speaks of ancient traditions, according to which this is how the evil spirit captured the souls of people “Those who got into the stone circle could no longer get out of it.

Needless to say, tourists willingly enter this circle - and even rub the sculpture's nose for good luck (and also a mouse, which sits on the witch's shoulder), which, apparently, lies in the fact that to move the stone is not given to her in this story.

By the way, according to the plot, this is not just a witch, this is Vadelinda, grandmother of all witches. And, of course, her appearance (and all this sculptural compositions) in this particular place is not an accident.



The devil also rubs something for happiness

And this place is called Witches' Dance Floor, what can translate as "Witches' Dance Floor", and it is considered to be truly connected with the history of local cults.

It is believed that in pagan antiquity on this mountain there were such "unclean" events. During excavations in the 19th century here, on top of Mount Broken, a bloody altar was discovered, used for animal sacrifice.

But the appearance of myths about witches is already attributed to the 9th century, when the first Christian Franks appeared here, who began to fight with Saxon sacrificial tradition.



An upside-down witch's house, stones with eyes and a tree uprooted in Tala

But why, in this case, are the witches dancing? But because according to legend, on Walpurgis Night (from April 30 to May 1) 773 King Charlemagne ordered his soldiers to guard this place and not let not a single Saxon (and Saxons, of course) go there.

However, they still got here - disguised as witches, devils and other evil spirits, and began to dance, which frightened off all the guards.

So the theme of the local "park" was not chosen by chance and Crossing the "Witch's Circle" in Tala, there is still something to see. For example, upside down "witch's house", stones with eyes, trees growing with roots up, and all sorts of thematically wooden sculptures.



The whole composition "Witch Circle"

But for some reason, it was the bare-assed witch who became the most famous heroine of this place.