Luxembourg River dweller Mythology

Plätschmännchen of Oberanven

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: The Splash Man, Little Splashing Man
Category: River dweller

The Myth

In the village of Oberanven, people once spoke of a mysterious being called the Plätschmännchen.

Every evening it was said to move along the stream that ran through the village, splashing loudly in the water as though striking it with a rod or whip. The sound was clear and unmistakable, yet no one ever saw the being itself.

Thus the villagers believed that an unseen water spirit passed through the stream each night, known only by the sound of its splashing.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Plätschmännchen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Plaetschmaennchen.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

The Great Water Spirit of Echternach

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Echternach Water Giant
Category: River dweller

The Myth

Near Echternach there was said to dwell an immense water spirit.

During the day he remained in the Spelzbusche, hidden from sight. At nightfall he descended to the Sauer River and plunged into the water.

He was described as a gigantic figure clad in long, flowing white robes. Fishermen feared him greatly, for when he hurled himself into the river, the force of his fall shattered boats nearby and broke them to pieces.

Thus the great spirit of the river was believed to move between forest and water, unseen by day and feared at night.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Der große Wassergeist bei Echternach. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wassergeist_Echternach.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

Ferry Spirit of Rosport

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Rosport Ferry Ghost
Category: Ghost, River dweller

The Myth

In earlier times, the ferry at Rosport on the Sauer River was said to be haunted.

When the ferryman had to carry passengers late at night, it sometimes happened that the boat, though empty or only lightly loaded, suddenly became terribly heavy in midstream. It could scarcely be moved and seemed ready to sink at any moment.

The ferrymen believed that this was caused by a malevolent spirit that climbed invisibly into the boat and weighed it down as it crossed the river.

Thus the ferry was feared at night, for people said an unseen being still haunted the crossing.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Der Spuk auf der Rosporter Fähre. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Rosporter_Faehre.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

The Moselgeist of the Meilesteen

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Moselstadtgeist, Moselle Spirit
Category: River dweller, Ghost

The Myth

On the Moselle River, at a place called ob em Meilesteen a short distance upstream from Mertert, fishermen who worked at night often heard a strange sound. It resembled the splashing of countless carp striking the water with their tails, and the noise drifted downstream toward Mertert and beyond. Near Wasserbillig it suddenly ceased, and people said it stopped where the old Moselstadt once stood, for it was believed that a great town of that name had existed there long ago.

The fishermen said the splashing was caused by the Moselgeist, the spirit of the Moselle.

Others told that at the same place, in the darkness of night, they had seen an unknown boatman crossing the river. He rowed silently across the water, and just as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished into the river and was gone.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Der Moselgeist zwischen Grevenmacher und Wasserbillig. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Moselgeist.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

Steipmännchen of the Sempchen

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: River Stone Man, Sempchen Steipmännchen
Category: River dweller

The Myth

One evening, as a man was traveling from Ahn to Wormeldange, he saw in the Sempchen river a small, bony old man struggling to force a boat against the current. Moved by pity, the traveler went down to the bank and called out to him, offering to help and asking the old man to throw him a rope so he could pull the boat toward Wormeldange.

But the little figure had only pretended to struggle in order to lure him. Instead of tossing a rope, the Steipmännchen suddenly struck the man with a violent blow from his oar. The traveler fell to the ground, stunned, while the deceitful river spirit had accomplished his trick.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Steipmännchen in der Sempchen bei Wormeldingen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Steipmaennchen_Sempchen.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

Steipmännchen of Ehnen

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Little Rock Man, Stone Man of the Moselle
Category: River dweller

The Myth

In earlier times, a malicious spirit known as the Steipmännchen lived near Ehnen along the Moselle. He delighted in teasing the boatmen who traveled the river and in playing tricks on them.

On stormy nights he was said to sail a half-boat near the Ehnen weir, splashing loudly with oar and pole while crying out again and again, “Help, help, or I will perish!” If a compassionate boatman rowed toward the dangerous place to rescue him, he found no one in need. Instead, the Steipmännchen laughed and clapped from the rocky bank. Should the boatman grow angry and curse him, the spirit might capsize the boat, leaving the man to struggle in the cold water.

At other times the little being would call from the ferry on the opposite shore, begging to be taken across. When a boatman came to fetch the supposed traveler, he was met only by mocking laughter. As soon as he returned home, the drawn-out cry of “Carry me over!” would sound again from the nearby Braas forest.

People also told that at the witching hour a boat was often heard on the Moselle traveling up from Wormeldingen as far as the statue of Saint Nicholas. There it could go no farther and would suddenly turn back downstream, only to return again and again until the hour had passed. No one ever saw the Steipmännchen himself, but many claimed to have heard his ghostly passage upon the river.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Steipmännchen bei Ehnen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Steipmaennchen.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

Baachjöfferchen of Ettelbrück

by

Tradition / Region: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternate Names: Waaßerkätchen, Plätschkätchen
Category: River dweller

The Myth

Near Ettelbrück there is said to appear at night a strange water-being known as the Baachjöfferchen. It emerges from the mill pond called Millewo, dressed in white.

From there it wanders along the stream beside Feulener Straße, babbling softly as it moves. After following the water for a time, it turns to the right across a gentle slope and makes a wide arc through the land.

At last it returns to the very place where it first appeared and slips back into the water, its murmuring voice fading as it disappears beneath the surface.

Gallery

Sources

sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Das Baachjöfferchen. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Baachjoefferchen.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