Slęża (Mons Sabathus) 2010

Slavs - one of the oldest people in Europe. Mountain Ślęża was a central point of their religious worships and their world view. A name of the current Slavic tribe "Silesians" (formerly "Ślężanie") is derived from the name of the Mountain. Ancient and Medieval Silesia was covering a large part of today's Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.

A cloud covered the top of a Mountain:

The path to the top of Ślęża:

Ancient Silesians venerated stones and rocks being on the Mount Ślęża:

So-called "Slices" ("Plasterki" in Polish). Pay attention to a solar sign on the rock... which meant that the rocks and this place were holy:

The top of "Plasterki" (GPS: N 50.87294°, E 16.72559°, 511m a.s.l.):

Rocks in the forrest:

A fragment of the ancient cult stone circle at the top:

Sickening sight on the top: Germans built the shelter, Polish socialists built the television tower and Catholics built the church. Horrible!

Ancient holy rock on the top (GPS: N 50.86464°, E 16.70785°, 715m a.s.l.):

Up a little...:

...and this is the top sensu stricto: the highest point on the Mount (GPS: N 50.86412°, E 16.70754°, 718m a.s.l.):

View from the top:

There are many pagan (Slav or Celtic) cult statues on Ślęża area. Note that nobody knows their original locations, because the sculptures were re-used as boundary pillars in the Middle Ages (XII century). We only know that they were probably made in VII-IV century BC and that they have an X sign interpreted as holy solar sign.

The Bear - the ancient granite cult statue found in 1854 on Strzegomiany Village area near Boar Road ("Droga Dzikiej Świni" in Polish) and placed at the top in 1903 (GPS: N 50.86534°, E 16.70822°, 688m a.s.l):

The crude Catholic is drinking beer and profaning the ancient holy (for pagans) sculpture. Other Catholics are doing the same. Beside, there is a papal cross with the ironic inscription: "With this sign you will win". What about climbing on the papal cross, swinging on it and drinking beer? Why not? Go ahead!:

The Bear - the second cult statue with solar sign; found near its present location in 1733 (GPS: N 50.87219°, E 16.72193°, 535m a.s.l.):

Miss with fish - the ancient granite cult statue with solar sign; found near its present location in 1733 (GPS: N 50.87219°, E 16.72193°, 535m a.s.l.):

So-called "The Mushroom" ("Grzyb" in Polish) - probably part of an ancient cult statue of a man; founded on its current place, beside the Saint Anna Church in Sobótka (GPS: N 50.89958°, E 16.74403°, 182m a.s.l.):

The Lion - the medieval (XII century) Roman statue in Sobótka, found near Rogów Sobócki in XIX century. Note, it is not cult statue (GPS: N 50.89967°, E 16.74396°, 182m a.s.l.):

...and what, the hell, is it? The second Roman sculpture of the lion (XII century) fitted in the wall of the church. Don't ask me why... Embarrassing! (GPS: N 50.89705°, E 16.74490°, 202m a.s.l.):

Sobótka Column ("Kolumna sobótczańska" in Polish) - an ancient granite cult statue (has no solar sign but is probably the oldest cult stone in Poland, is dated to the Neolithic period). It is 240cm high, 45cm diameter, found in 1933 in Sobótka. The statue is now in the Museum Ślężańskie in Sobótka, in so-called "Lapidarium" on 18 Saint Jakub Street (GPS: N 50.89610°, E 16.74441°, 202m a.s.l.):

Solar sign on a granite cylinder found in Górka. The cylinder is now in the Museum Ślężańskie in Sobótka, in so-called "Lapidarium" on 18 Saint Jakub Street (GPS: N 50.89610°, E 16.74441°, 202m a.s.l.):

So-called "Monk" ("Mnich" in Polish) or "Bowling pin" ("Kręgiel" in Polish) - an ancient granite cult stone found near Garncarsko Village, is 270cm high (GPS: N 50.89146°, E 16.73606°, 243m a.s.l.):