Poppostein

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Poppostein (2008)
View around 1936

The Poppostein (also font called Danish : Popp East (s) ) is a passage grave from the Neolithic period near the Army Road in Helligbek, community Sieverstedt , in the Schleswig Geest east of B76 from Flensburg to Schleswig . The megalithic system of the funnel beaker culture (TBK) was created between 3500 and 2800 BC. Chr.

description

The approximately 2.4 m long system was previously covered by a mound. Today the stones are exposed. The interior measures 2.2 × 1.0 m and is bordered by two carrier stones on the narrow sides and one carrier stone at the northern end. The dolmen is open to the south . On the granite capstone , which bears the name Poppostein, there are 17 small, rubbed-in indentations ( Danish skålformede fordybninger ). The prehistory researchers assume that they were driven into the stone in connection with cultic acts. Another thesis is that the stone dust knocked out was ascribed special healing properties, since the shell stones consist mainly of a type of granite with a certain chemical composition. According to Jacob Röschmann , the chemical elements that occur in the cup stones in natural, different compounds are of great importance in medicine.

Naming

The legends about Bishop Poppo are often cited as the namesake for the stone. But the truthfulness of the legends is doubted by scientists. For example, the Germanic researcher Freerk Haye Schirmann-Hamkens ascribes the name Poppostein directly to Poppensteen, derived from the Low German word Poppe, which means doll equals child. Stones have symbolized duration and strength since ancient times, which is why in pre-Christian times they served as both legal and bridal stones on which justice was pronounced and marriages were concluded. The bowls in the capstone are said to come from a custom at marriage, in which sparks were struck for a fire with a marriage sword (Aeswird). Fire and water are the basic elements of the household and should provide blessings for children.

history

The burial mound was probably built between 3000 and 2700 BC.

Probably the place was in pre-Christian times as Thingplace of Istedsyssels to which nine Harden belonged used. Following the custom of holding the thing by prehistoric burial mounds and stone setting, the Idstedt community will also have met at Poppostein. This is also supported by the fact that there used to be an inn in Helligbek. There were often inns at or near Thingstätten because many people used to gather here on a regular basis. For this reason, the place was later also well suited for Christianizing the population.

According to legend , the Schleswig bishop Poppo is said to have baptized pagans at the megalithic site in the 10th century. In 960 he is said to have baptized the Danish King Harald Blauzahn Gormsson († 985, one of the builders of the Danewerk ) in nearby Jütenbach after he had convinced him of the power of Christianity by carrying red-hot iron with his bare hands. Since then the brook has been called Helligbek (Danish for holy brook ). Bishop Poppo is said to have preached to the Gentiles from a nearby hilltop, which is now in the front garden of the Poppholz farm. It is therefore also called the pulpit. In another legend, the miracle of fire is described by burning a shirt soaked in wax on the body of missionary Poppo and the stone is said to have been hurled at Poppo by the angry devil.

Other sources report that the Danish king only had to undergo a forced baptism in 974/975 after a defeat by the Hamburg Archbishop Adaldag , which was appropriate for a king's baptism , and that the fire miracle of Poppo as the reason for the voluntary baptism could be considered a historical beauty. According to this, the Danes were supposed to cover up a defeat and the forced Christianization by the Germans through this beautification of history .

In 1859 the Danish King Friedrich VII bought the burial mound. Since then, the square has been surrounded by six boundary stones on which the Danish coat of arms and the year are carved. Today the grave is owned by the state and is a listed building .

See also

literature

  • Karsten Kjer Michaelsen: Politics bog om Danmarks oldtid . Copenhagen 2002 ISBN 87-567-6458-8 , p. 140
  • Ernst Sprockhoff : Atlas of the megalithic tombs of Germany. Part 1: Schleswig-Holstein. Rudolf Habelt Verlag, Bonn 1966, p. 14

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Municipality of Sieverstedt: Der Poppostein ( Memento from August 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Status: May 29, 2009
  2. ↑ Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , Vol. 15, 2000, p. 19
  3. ↑ Concise dictionary of German superstition , ed. by Eduard Hoffmann-Krayer, Hanns Bächtold-Stäubli, p. 148 ff.
  4. ^ Otto Karl Müllenhoff: Legends, fairy tales and songs of the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg. Schwerssche Buch., 1845, p. 197 f.
  5. ↑ Niels Lund: Haithabu and the great Danish ring castles by Heidger Brandt. Books on Demand, 2005, p. 151

Web links

Commons : Großsteingrab Poppostein  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 54 ° 36 ′ 33.7 ″  N , 9 ° 28 ′ 41 ″  E