Yewic Antidote. 'The Devil and the Market Woman' by Krista Löneke-Kemmerling, and Yew, Taxus baccata, Aachen, Germany
A bit bored with all that Charlemagne in Aachen, I went for a small hike up the Lousberg on the way passing by the Salvatorkirche on a lower hill. The Lousberg rises about 270 metres to give a grand view of the city. No, the name has nothing to do with Louis the Pious (778-840), son of Charlemagne and purported founder of that church. 'Lous' in the Aachen dialect means 'shrewd' or 'crafty', and it pertains directly to that Market Woman sculpted (1985) so life-like by Krista Löneke-Kemmerling.
'The Market Woman and the Devil' stands in a little dip between the Salavatorberg and the Lousberg. The story goes that when the Aacheners were constructing their cathedral, the Devil allowed them to do so if they paid him a hefty sum. They reneged and the Devil angrily slammed shut the church's doors, losing his thumbs in the process. Look at his right hand in the sculpture. Anyway, he swore revenge and on his way to cover the city in sand he met our crafty Market Woman, who recognised him by his hoof: 'Is it far to Aachen, then?' the Fiend demanded. She shrewdly replied: 'Look at my old shoes and the hardened bread I'm carrying; they were new and soft when I bought them.' The Devil, exasperated because it was too far for him, threw down his sack of sand which was transformed into the Lousberg, Crafty Hill. Thus the city was saved for the likes of myself to escape Charlemagne with a view, too, on this pleasant day.
So, what does Taxus baccata, Yew, have to do with all of this? Well, Yew trees were often regarded as repellants of Evil. Indeed, they are on the whole quite poisonous themselves but the adage is: poison poisons poison. But the red 'skins' of the fruits are not; in fact, they're quite deliciously sweet and nice for a jelly. In the bottom right of the inset you can see that Icky Delight. Yours Truly licked it up. But don't eat the seed!
The path up the hill is lined with these Yews; and no Devils about...
Yewic Antidote. 'The Devil and the Market Woman' by Krista Löneke-Kemmerling, and Yew, Taxus baccata, Aachen, Germany
A bit bored with all that Charlemagne in Aachen, I went for a small hike up the Lousberg on the way passing by the Salvatorkirche on a lower hill. The Lousberg rises about 270 metres to give a grand view of the city. No, the name has nothing to do with Louis the Pious (778-840), son of Charlemagne and purported founder of that church. 'Lous' in the Aachen dialect means 'shrewd' or 'crafty', and it pertains directly to that Market Woman sculpted (1985) so life-like by Krista Löneke-Kemmerling.
'The Market Woman and the Devil' stands in a little dip between the Salavatorberg and the Lousberg. The story goes that when the Aacheners were constructing their cathedral, the Devil allowed them to do so if they paid him a hefty sum. They reneged and the Devil angrily slammed shut the church's doors, losing his thumbs in the process. Look at his right hand in the sculpture. Anyway, he swore revenge and on his way to cover the city in sand he met our crafty Market Woman, who recognised him by his hoof: 'Is it far to Aachen, then?' the Fiend demanded. She shrewdly replied: 'Look at my old shoes and the hardened bread I'm carrying; they were new and soft when I bought them.' The Devil, exasperated because it was too far for him, threw down his sack of sand which was transformed into the Lousberg, Crafty Hill. Thus the city was saved for the likes of myself to escape Charlemagne with a view, too, on this pleasant day.
So, what does Taxus baccata, Yew, have to do with all of this? Well, Yew trees were often regarded as repellants of Evil. Indeed, they are on the whole quite poisonous themselves but the adage is: poison poisons poison. But the red 'skins' of the fruits are not; in fact, they're quite deliciously sweet and nice for a jelly. In the bottom right of the inset you can see that Icky Delight. Yours Truly licked it up. But don't eat the seed!
The path up the hill is lined with these Yews; and no Devils about...