Stone Cross (Großerkmannsdorf)

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Steinkreuz Großerkmannsdorf

The Großerkmannsdorf stone cross , also known as the atonement or murder cross , is located on the S 181 between Großerkmannsdorf and Radeberg .

Execution and location

The cross is made of sandstone , is about 90 cm high, 58 cm wide and 27 cm deep. It shows strong signs of weathering. Artificial recesses, so-called pans, can be found at various points on the cross .

The location of the cross has changed several times over the years. It is proven within the town until 1923, after which it was considered lost until the 1950s. It was probably buried to remove a curse that was supposed to be upon it. In 1956 it was found again while plowing a field and put up again by the Kulturbund der DDR . The cross was badly damaged during road construction in 1970, it was restored in August 1971 and set up at its current location, not far from the entrance to the Großerkmannsdorf radio tower.

Legend

According to legend, the stone cross commemorates a murder that occurred in 1634. In Radeberg there had been a customs post for salt transports between the Electorate of Saxony and Lusatia since the 15th century . On April 2, 1634, a train of salt-laden horse and carts passed the customs border. The wagons were led by a cornet of the Imperial Army and accompanied by armed soldiers and Radeberg citizens. In a wooded area near Großerkmannsdorf, several armed farmers from the village under the leadership of the instigator Michael Merkel lay in wait for the transport and tried to ambush it. When the two sides collided, Merkel was so badly wounded by a shot from the cornet that he died on April 13, 1634. According to legend, the stone cross is supposed to commemorate his death. The armed conflict and the death of Michael Merkel are recorded in the Großerkmannsdorf church book, but without a specific reference to the cross.

Web links

Commons : Stone Cross  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Dresdner Heide, Pillnitz, Radeberger Land (= values ​​of our homeland . Volume 27). 1st edition. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1976. p. 120.
  2. ↑ Gerhard Müller, Harald Quietzsch: stone crosses and cross stones in Saxony / Inventory district of Dresden . VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 1977, p. 116 ff .
  3. ^ Th. Leuschner: From the stone cross at Großerkmannsdorf . In: Landesverein Sächs. Homeland security . Issue 3 to 4, Volume XV, 1926, pp. 160 .

Coordinates: 51 ° 5 '36.8 "  N , 13 ° 55' 15.2"  E