1/ Since @JohannaMakesGames was curious, here is a thread on assorted "Underworlds" from German folklore.
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14/ Another sometimes-dweller of the Underworld were the "Blessed Maidens" (sometimes called "Wild Women") of the Austrian Alps. Those mortals who visited them in their grottoes were often changed by the experience - and not always for the better.
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Three_Blessed_Maidens_near_Morin_in_the_%C3%96tztal_Valley
15/ Of further interest to both the people living at the time and modern #ttrpg players were the numerous subterranean "treasure vaults" - caves and chambers filled with riches, for the taking of those who were able to overcome the guardians.
Though some of these treasure guardians took on some unexpected forms.
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15/ Of further interest to both the people living at the time and modern #ttrpg players were the numerous subterranean "treasure vaults" - caves and chambers filled with riches, for the taking of those who were able to overcome the guardians.
Though some of these treasure guardians took on some unexpected forms.
16/ Lakes, too, could represent a form of Underworld - with unfathomable depths inhabited by strange spirits.
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16/ Lakes, too, could represent a form of Underworld - with unfathomable depths inhabited by strange spirits.
17/ One such lake - located on the Hoher Meißner mountain in Hesse - was said to be the home of Frau Holle - an incarnation of Hulda, a female goddess or great spirit whose footprint can be found everywhere in German-speaking lands.
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16/ Lakes, too, could represent a form of Underworld - with unfathomable depths inhabited by strange spirits.
Tolkien's LOTR features such a lake, at the Western Gates of Moria.
Watcher in the Water
"Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had hold of Frodo’s foot, and was dragging him into the water. Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with a knife.The arm let go of Frodo, and Sam pulled him away, crying out for...
The One Wiki to Rule Them All (lotr.fandom.com)
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17/ One such lake - located on the Hoher Meißner mountain in Hesse - was said to be the home of Frau Holle - an incarnation of Hulda, a female goddess or great spirit whose footprint can be found everywhere in German-speaking lands.
18 (FIN)/ I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into assorted Realms Below from German folklore!
If you want to support me in making more tales like these accessible to an international audience - by translating them into English, releasing them under a #CreativeCommons Zero license, and ultimately publishing them in books and on this wiki - then you can buy my books and subscribe to my Patreon campaign!
(You knew that part was coming, right?
)
Your guide to German folklore! - Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles
Your guidebook to German folklore!
Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles (sunkencastles.com)
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Tolkien's LOTR features such a lake, at the Western Gates of Moria.
Watcher in the Water
"Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had hold of Frodo’s foot, and was dragging him into the water. Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with a knife.The arm let go of Frodo, and Sam pulled him away, crying out for...
The One Wiki to Rule Them All (lotr.fandom.com)
It's a popular theme. I mean, people in earlier centuries didn't have access to either sonar or diving equipment - so any lake where you could not see the bottom was effectively bottomless.
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These are great ! I used to read the original, unexpurgated Grimm's stories to my children. They always liked the most horrible stories the most.
Another was
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Bechstein
or
https://www.wissens-blog.12hp.de/germanische-mythologie/
or
Nibelungen, König Laurins Rosengarten, etc. -
Another was
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Bechstein
or
https://www.wissens-blog.12hp.de/germanische-mythologie/
or
Nibelungen, König Laurins Rosengarten, etc.Ludwig Bechstein was a really prolific folklorist, and I have translated quite a few of his tales.
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_des_Frankenlandes
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_und_die_Sagenkreise_des_Th%C3%BCringerlandes_Erster_Theil
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_und_die_Sagenkreise_des_Th%C3%BCringerlandes_Vierter_Theil
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Th%C3%BCringer_Sagenbuch_Erster_Band
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Th%C3%BCringer_Sagenbuch_Zweiter_Band -
Ludwig Bechstein was a really prolific folklorist, and I have translated quite a few of his tales.
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_des_Frankenlandes
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_und_die_Sagenkreise_des_Th%C3%BCringerlandes_Erster_Theil
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Der_Sagenschatz_und_die_Sagenkreise_des_Th%C3%BCringerlandes_Vierter_Theil
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Th%C3%BCringer_Sagenbuch_Erster_Band
https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/Category:Bechstein_-_Th%C3%BCringer_Sagenbuch_Zweiter_Band@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Old books with fairy tales, legends, old stories
(1) -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Old books with fairy tales, legends, old stories
(1)@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Old books with fairy tales, legends, old stories
(2) -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Old books with fairy tales, legends, old stories
(2)I use this links list for my own research:
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@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Old books with fairy tales, legends, old stories
(2)@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
One must not forget the German Romantic period, Ludwig II Otto Friedrich Wilhelm of Bavaria (Neuschwanstein), and his court composer Richard Wagner (best known work – Ring of the Nibelung).. -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
One must not forget the German Romantic period, Ludwig II Otto Friedrich Wilhelm of Bavaria (Neuschwanstein), and his court composer Richard Wagner (best known work – Ring of the Nibelung)..@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
King Laurin's Rose Garden – this legend takes place in what is now South Tyrol.https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nig_Laurins_Rosengarten
.
https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN729138968&PHYSID=PHYS_0007&DMDID= -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
King Laurin's Rose Garden – this legend takes place in what is now South Tyrol.https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nig_Laurins_Rosengarten
.
https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN729138968&PHYSID=PHYS_0007&DMDID=@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
An old legend from Vienna
Der Basilisk in der Schönlaterngasse
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/wien/vonaltenhaeusern/basilisk.html
.
https://www.culturalatina.at/de/kultur/mythen-und-sagen/item/1849-der-basilisk-in-der-schoenlaterngasse
.
https://www.ganz-wien.at/lifestyle/mystery/der-raetselhafte-basilisk.html
.
https://austria-forum.org/af/Heimatlexikon/Basilisk
..
Der Basilisk – Tödliches, schlangenhaftes Ungeheuer
https://www.mittelalter-leben.de/mythen-legenden/basilisk/
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@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
An old legend from Vienna
Der Basilisk in der Schönlaterngasse
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/wien/vonaltenhaeusern/basilisk.html
.
https://www.culturalatina.at/de/kultur/mythen-und-sagen/item/1849-der-basilisk-in-der-schoenlaterngasse
.
https://www.ganz-wien.at/lifestyle/mystery/der-raetselhafte-basilisk.html
.
https://austria-forum.org/af/Heimatlexikon/Basilisk
..
Der Basilisk – Tödliches, schlangenhaftes Ungeheuer
https://www.mittelalter-leben.de/mythen-legenden/basilisk/
.@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Just think of all the legends there are in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria!
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/niederoesterreich/weinviertel/sagen_noe_weinviertel.htm -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
Just think of all the legends there are in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria!
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/niederoesterreich/weinviertel/sagen_noe_weinviertel.htmI haven't read any of the collections about Lower Austria yet, but they are on my list.
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I haven't read any of the collections about Lower Austria yet, but they are on my list.
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
More about legends
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/sagen.htm
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/Haymon_tb/Schoenste_Sagen.html
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/Innsbruck_Sagenbuch/Innsbrucker_Sagenbuch.html
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/gullibuch/Gullibuch.html
.
sagen.at is a very interesting and comprehensive source. It goes beyond the German-speaking world. -
@juergen_hubert @tuban_muzuru
More about legends
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/sagen.htm
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/Haymon_tb/Schoenste_Sagen.html
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/Innsbruck_Sagenbuch/Innsbrucker_Sagenbuch.html
.
https://www.sagen.at/doku/gullibuch/Gullibuch.html
.
sagen.at is a very interesting and comprehensive source. It goes beyond the German-speaking world.It is, and I have read it in the past.
However, for copyright reasons I stick to digital scans of public domain works these days. I put my translations under a #CreativeCommons Zero license, but the legality of doing so is tricky if the copyright status of the source material is unclear.
