Edited by RPIC Prešov | Presov Region
Legend of the precious stone from the Hawk Tower
Country: Slovakia
Region: Presov Region
Type of inspiration: Legends
Inspiracja
An interesting phenomenon is the green colouring of the water on Green Lake, which sparked the imagination of the first visitors to the high mountains. They believed that the lakes were connected through the underworld to the sea. There was also a legend circulating that the water changed colour after a certain young man fell into the lake from the Hawk Tower (Jastrabej veže).
This story tells of a young man who climbed the tower above the valley and from there wanted to bring a gift for his beloved - a green, shiny expensive stone. The young man touched the stone and the guardian of the Tatra treasures shook the rocky peak. The youngster fell into the water, and the lake water swallowed him along with the expensive stone, which he squeezed in his fist. As soon as he fell, the water turned green. There were rumours among the people that the youngster was the young Count Thököly, son of the lord of the castle in Kežmarok, who later ordered the dam to be pierced and the water drained so that the corpse of his son could be found more easily.
Older literature states that the Green Lake originally reached as far as the Hawk Tower and traces of the erosion of the moraine dam are visible. The tragic death of the carpenter's helper Ján Andrej Papirus from the village of Matejovce, who died near the lake, may also be a reason for this story.
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