The temple fortress of Arkona, today called Jaromarsburg, was the religious centre of the Slavic Rani in the Early Middle Ages.
The temple was dedicated to the deity Svantevit, who was depicted with
four heads. The temple housed an important horse oracle in Slavic times,
where the behaviour of a white stallion could decide peace or war.
Today, only about a quarter of the old fortress is left, as the
chalk-promontory it was built on is slowly eroded by the Baltic. Rescue
excavations are in progress.
The Temple of Arkona was the main sacred site of polabian Slavic tribes
(called Rans or Lutici) located on the island of Rujana (Ruegen). The
temple was the centre of Svantevit (four-headed god) worshippers. There
was a larger-than-life wooden statue of Svantevit in the main sanctuary.
Also a sacred white horse was kept in Arkona. Only head priest could
ride this horse and the legends say that Svantevit himself rode it in
the nights. This horse was used also for zoomancy : the hoof he first
cross the crossed spears gave the priests indicia on the result of
upcoming war. It was a bad sign when horse died. The head priest of
Arkona was in higher position than the slavic prince and was accompanied
by suite of thee hundered horsemen.
It is said that the priests shouldn't breathe when cleaned the temple so
they always had to go out to draw a deep breath and than come back to
continue in cleaning.
The old danish chronicle wrote: " ... very nice wooden temple, favoured
not only spectacular rites but also for the statue of god inside. Ring
fence outside was decoraded by rich woodcarvings containing also various
paintings. There was only gate opened to coming people. The sanctuary
was surrounded by double barrier - the outer one was carrying the roof
while inner one with four pillars instead of walls shined bz suspension
courtains. In the sanctuary there was giant idol with four heads and
four napes. It has shaved bears and cutted hair as the creator wanted to
imitate the customs of Rani-people. In right hand the statue had a horn
from different metals, every year filled with wine during ceremonies to
predict the wealth for upcoming year. The left hand was nestled on
waist and the pedestal was part of the floor. Nearby there were reins
and saddle and other signs of gods' power. The most fascinating was the
sword of unussual size decoraded with both scabbard and blade by silver
inlaided"
In 1168 was Ruegen conquered by danish christian king Waldermar First
the Great and Arkona was destroyed by order of arch-bishop Absolon. The
statue of Svantevit cut to pieces and burned in front of views of
humiliated slavic people. Afterthat the forced christianisation was
applied on the whole island. By this was old slavic religion perished
since Arkona was the only remaining place of slavic belief.
There are two old lighthouse at the cape, one constructed in 1827, the
other one in 1902. The former is one of the oldest still existing
lighthouses of the Baltic Sea. It was constructed by the famous
architect Karl FriedrichSchinkel.
In 1927, the cape's name was given to a German liner, the SS Kap Arkona.
Prior to the German reunification, Arkona was often considered the most
northern point in the German Democratic republic. However, the site
Gellort is located about one kilometre northwest.
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