Tradition / Region: Romanian Mythology
Alternate Names: The Windau Moor Lizards; The Crowned Lizard Prince
Category: Lizard
The Myth
In the deepest and darkest part of the Windau Forest lies a lonely moor, ringed about with stones of strange and wondrous shapes. People say this desolate place is the domain of two gigantic lizards.
One of them wears a splendid crown that gleams with a radiant light. Whenever a human passes near the moor, the creatures crawl out from their hiding places and look upon the traveler with pleading eyes, as though begging for help.
But the sight of the monstrous beasts fills people with terror. Instead of pity, they seize stones and hurl them at the lizards. At once a dreadful punishment falls upon them — those who cast the stones are themselves turned into stone, adding to the strange ring that surrounds the moor.
For the crowned creature is said to be no ordinary beast but a prince, cursed long ago by his cruel father. With him were cursed his beautiful bride and his whole kingdom, bound to this lonely place in enchanted form.
Yet the tale also says that the curse is not eternal. One day a pure and strong-hearted maiden will come to the moor. She alone will understand the creatures’ pleading gaze, and through her courage and compassion the prince, his bride, and his lost realm will finally be redeemed.
Gallery
Sources
sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Windauer Moor. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/rumaenien/siebenbuergen/windauermoor.html
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive