DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1442#0061
kl
eminence, where
hat denomination
aid to have been
some stones with
bis circumstance,
Lters and shippers,
It flows through
a pleasant valley,
it is received by
ioned of the ma-
r 1733.
>m an old sooth-
ot, and of whom,
ed Jettha, resided
nding, and which
t chapel, some of
ine Frederick was
palace, which is
or her prophecies,
more respected,
nswered from her
ange verses : it was
residence of royal
d and ornamented
,, would be filled
Section III.
Directly opposite Heidelberg, there is a high mountain, called the
sacred mountain (Heiligenberg). There it is, where the Romans, after
having conquered the German nations, are said to have built a strong
castle, at the time of the emperors Valerius Probus, Gratianus, or Valerianus.
That a temple has been erected here to Mercury, is conjectured from the
inscription on a stone, dug out at a later period, when a cloister of
Benedictines was built on the same spot, and fixed into the wall of it.
There also was found here another stone, ornamented with raised
sculpture, and somewhat excavated (probably an altar for sacrifices),
on which, amongst others, an eagle devoted to Jupiter, a Vulcan, and
a Victoria, still could be distinguished.
When the Francs emancipated themselves from the Roman joke, and
abolished idolatry, this height, which had been sacred to Mercury, was
called mount-Abraham.
The emperor Henry II. in the year 102^, gave leave to the abbot
Reginaldus, to build a monastry upon it. Some time later the abbot
Anselmus erected on the highest top of it a cloister, in memory of the
first martyr St. Stephen. There are still some fragments of that building
to be seen, which in Merian are represented as a stalely mass of ruins.
At the foot of this mountain, are situated the villages of Neuenheim and
Handschuhsheim, in the West, surrounded with vineyards.
The numerous pilgrimages that were performed to the cloisters of
.mount-Abraham, together with the exemplary lives of some of their
spiritual inhabitants, most probably gave rise to its present denomination.
Section IV.
The poet is not in want of foreign embellishments, when nature
has done for him so much, as here, A faithful copy of her works, is the
description of the rich vegetation, that covers this mount to it's very top,
with plants, bushes and trees, in picturesque variety.
The delicate flower of the periwinkle covers it's top, like a carpet.
It is the same flower, which, under the denomination of Pervanche, gave
so much delight to the celebrated J. J. Rousseau, on his botanical rambles.
The belladonna is here seen of the size of a tree, in all the pride
of it's poisonous fruits.
On this very mount of saints, according to common tradition, is
the entrance to a subterraneous passage, running at a considerable depth
underneath the bed of the Neckar, to the opposite bank; and formerly
was known by the denomination of the heathen-hole. There are several
inhabitants of Heidelberg, who assert having seen this cavern, which is now
completely covered with bushes and underwood, and gradually forgotten.
My authority for the historical facts respecting Heidelberg and its
environs, that are mentioned here, is Kayseb , in his Schauplatz von
Heidelberg.
Section V.
The expeditions of the Northern nations occupy too important a
place in history, to require being detailed here at large. The daring
piratical expeditions of the Wikingers are known, and extended them-
selves from the shores of Britain to Sicily ; they gave to Normandy it's
name, and to England a king in Canute the Great. The roving excur-
sions of those sea-kings, as they were called, extend from the earliest
period of European history to the eleventh century.
It is well known, that Finnland and the highest North were believed
to have given birth to those sorcerers, magicians, and dwarfs, of whom
ancient traditions relate such wonderful things. These nations distinguish
themselves eminently by a greater liveliness, and a certain active clearness
of mind. Their looks are fiery, their eyes dark-blue and their hair brown.
They resemble the inhabitants of the Southern parts of Europe, in their
exterior, and in the activity of their gesticulations. Even now, the capital
of Sweden is sometimes visited by small, active figures from Lapland's
wastes, trafficking with some simple implements, wrought bj them; and
by their tremoulous articulation and lively gesticulation, exhibiting a
stocking contrast with the reserved Swedes, who take them for soothsayers
and negromancers.
Their southern naïvity might entitle them to be called the. gipsies of
the North.
As for the rest, the Finlanders in general are of a fiery spirit, and
possess a clear and acute understanding; they are very lively, and fond of
the higher sciences, witness Schwanberg, one of the most learned astro-
nomers, and Fraiizeen, a very agreeable poet, both of whom are natives
of Torneo.
eminence, where
hat denomination
aid to have been
some stones with
bis circumstance,
Lters and shippers,
It flows through
a pleasant valley,
it is received by
ioned of the ma-
r 1733.
>m an old sooth-
ot, and of whom,
ed Jettha, resided
nding, and which
t chapel, some of
ine Frederick was
palace, which is
or her prophecies,
more respected,
nswered from her
ange verses : it was
residence of royal
d and ornamented
,, would be filled
Section III.
Directly opposite Heidelberg, there is a high mountain, called the
sacred mountain (Heiligenberg). There it is, where the Romans, after
having conquered the German nations, are said to have built a strong
castle, at the time of the emperors Valerius Probus, Gratianus, or Valerianus.
That a temple has been erected here to Mercury, is conjectured from the
inscription on a stone, dug out at a later period, when a cloister of
Benedictines was built on the same spot, and fixed into the wall of it.
There also was found here another stone, ornamented with raised
sculpture, and somewhat excavated (probably an altar for sacrifices),
on which, amongst others, an eagle devoted to Jupiter, a Vulcan, and
a Victoria, still could be distinguished.
When the Francs emancipated themselves from the Roman joke, and
abolished idolatry, this height, which had been sacred to Mercury, was
called mount-Abraham.
The emperor Henry II. in the year 102^, gave leave to the abbot
Reginaldus, to build a monastry upon it. Some time later the abbot
Anselmus erected on the highest top of it a cloister, in memory of the
first martyr St. Stephen. There are still some fragments of that building
to be seen, which in Merian are represented as a stalely mass of ruins.
At the foot of this mountain, are situated the villages of Neuenheim and
Handschuhsheim, in the West, surrounded with vineyards.
The numerous pilgrimages that were performed to the cloisters of
.mount-Abraham, together with the exemplary lives of some of their
spiritual inhabitants, most probably gave rise to its present denomination.
Section IV.
The poet is not in want of foreign embellishments, when nature
has done for him so much, as here, A faithful copy of her works, is the
description of the rich vegetation, that covers this mount to it's very top,
with plants, bushes and trees, in picturesque variety.
The delicate flower of the periwinkle covers it's top, like a carpet.
It is the same flower, which, under the denomination of Pervanche, gave
so much delight to the celebrated J. J. Rousseau, on his botanical rambles.
The belladonna is here seen of the size of a tree, in all the pride
of it's poisonous fruits.
On this very mount of saints, according to common tradition, is
the entrance to a subterraneous passage, running at a considerable depth
underneath the bed of the Neckar, to the opposite bank; and formerly
was known by the denomination of the heathen-hole. There are several
inhabitants of Heidelberg, who assert having seen this cavern, which is now
completely covered with bushes and underwood, and gradually forgotten.
My authority for the historical facts respecting Heidelberg and its
environs, that are mentioned here, is Kayseb , in his Schauplatz von
Heidelberg.
Section V.
The expeditions of the Northern nations occupy too important a
place in history, to require being detailed here at large. The daring
piratical expeditions of the Wikingers are known, and extended them-
selves from the shores of Britain to Sicily ; they gave to Normandy it's
name, and to England a king in Canute the Great. The roving excur-
sions of those sea-kings, as they were called, extend from the earliest
period of European history to the eleventh century.
It is well known, that Finnland and the highest North were believed
to have given birth to those sorcerers, magicians, and dwarfs, of whom
ancient traditions relate such wonderful things. These nations distinguish
themselves eminently by a greater liveliness, and a certain active clearness
of mind. Their looks are fiery, their eyes dark-blue and their hair brown.
They resemble the inhabitants of the Southern parts of Europe, in their
exterior, and in the activity of their gesticulations. Even now, the capital
of Sweden is sometimes visited by small, active figures from Lapland's
wastes, trafficking with some simple implements, wrought bj them; and
by their tremoulous articulation and lively gesticulation, exhibiting a
stocking contrast with the reserved Swedes, who take them for soothsayers
and negromancers.
Their southern naïvity might entitle them to be called the. gipsies of
the North.
As for the rest, the Finlanders in general are of a fiery spirit, and
possess a clear and acute understanding; they are very lively, and fond of
the higher sciences, witness Schwanberg, one of the most learned astro-
nomers, and Fraiizeen, a very agreeable poet, both of whom are natives
of Torneo.