Buried in the identical place because the Danish kings and queens, a legend about one of many smaller graves haunts the Roskilde Cathedral. It’s stated {that a} horse was buried right here earlier than any individuals, and it haunts the graveyard because the three legged helhest, an omen of demise.
The cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, is a well-liked UNESCO World Heritage Website twenty minutes from Copenhagen. It has been the burial floor for Danish monarchs for hundreds of years, with greater than 40 kings and queens having their ultimate resting place. In response to the legend, one other creature can be buried beneath the stone ground.
Learn extra: Try all ghostly tales from Denmark
Contained in the cathedral is a black, unmarked flat headstone of Scanian or Bornholm limestone that has been often called the helhest grave. It’s believed to belong to the legendary helhest, that means horse of Hel. This was the horse of the Norse demise goddess Hel. For defense, individuals used to spit on the grave when passing by. As a result of when you ever noticed the spirit of the helhest strolling, you knew that demise was coming.
The Roskile Cathedral
The cathedral is without doubt one of the most vital church buildings in Denmark, and the official royal burial church of the Danish monarchs. Earlier than the church of right now was constructed, Harald Bluetooth raised a small stave church when he moved there when Roskilde was named the brand new capital of Denmark.
The church we see right now was constructed round 1200 as a formidable Gothic cathedral in pink brick. Three Viking Age kings are buried right here: Harald Bluetooth (died 986), Sweyn Forkbeard (died 1014) and Sweyn Estridsen (died 1074). Because the sixteenth century, all Danish monarchs have been buried in Roskilde Cathedral.
With the brand new cathedral accomplished in addition they wanted a relic for it. Two canons have been despatched to Rome to search out it and legend says that whereas they have been resting after their arrival, St Lucius, who had been pope from 253 to 255, appeared earlier than them, saying he had been chosen to be the patron saint of Roskilde till the top of time.
Learn Extra: Try the in depth article about The Helhest: Demise’s Horse in Danish Folklore
The following day, the 2 canons have been taken to Santa Cecilia in Trastevere to decide on amongst the various relics there. They noticed a cranium shining brightly, the cranium of St Lucius. On their return, their ship got here beneath assault by a robust demon that had lengthy lurked in Danish waters and wished a sufferer. The crew drew straws and the lot fell on the canon carrying the cranium of St Lucius. He provided a prayer to the saint, washed the cranium thrice, threw the water within the ocean, and jumped overboard. To everybody’s shock, the canon was in a position to stroll on the water. The demon disappeared screaming into the depths, by no means to be seen once more.
The Helhest
The Helhest is alleged to hang-out the slender streets across the cathedral and by the cemetery at night time. Once you hear it, you’ll be able to hear its staggering gait. However the look of it’s much more disturbing. It has, in keeping with lore, solely three legs, and are sometimes described with glowing pink eyes, and even headless.
The Helhest originates from a church-related custom. To keep away from the unhealthy luck of being the primary buried in a brand new cemetery, a grotesque apply concerned burying a reside animal, normally a horse with one leg reduce off, to exist between life and demise and guard the souls. This “church warden” was believed to guard the church from hurt and symbolize the transition between worlds, with the Helhest being one such entity from Nordic mythology.
Digging up the Horse Grave
Within the Nineteen Seventies, archaeologists investigated the supposed grave of the Helhest however didn’t discover the stays of a three-legged animal. As an alternative, they found components of a nobleman together with his head between his legs. Giving maybe extra questions than solutions.
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Gravstene i Roskilde Domkirkes gulv
