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The reflections on the Kaali meteorite
in ancient legends
The fall of the giant meteorite was certainly a tragic event, probably accompanied by extensive demolition, fires and even human victims. Falling of heavenly fire, explosion, clouds of dust and smoke, and the landscape changed beyond recognition must have caused fright and horror and awe among the surviving inhabitants. It is not known, how long the place maintained the taboo, but it is most likely that such a special place became a sacrificial site already before the settlement was established on its bank. The 6 m thick sediments at the bottom of the main crater may contain offerings. Hitherto the investigations have been stopped by a deposit of oak trunks, up to 1 m in diameter, at the depth of 4 m. Relying upon the dendrochronological data, these trees grew at the turn of the 1st and the 2nd millennia. The researchers have not yet been able to reach the deeper layers, which probably contain offerings. Still, the sacrificial water bodies in the neighbouring and Nordic countries allow to expect worthy results.
 Lennart Meri has analysed the possible reflections of the Kaali catastrophe in human recollections in his books "Hõbevalge" and "Hõbevalgem", connecting Saaremaa with the mythical Thule, supposedly visited by the Greek traveller Pytheas in 325 BC, and also with the place of worship of the Germanic goddess of land, Nerthus, described by Tacitus. Besides the written sources, the falling of the Kaali meteorite was indubitably reflected in the folklore and mythology of several peoples. The falling of Sun from the sky, which, depending of the location of the observer, could occur altogether in the wrong quarter of the horizon, the terrible crash, the all-demolishing impactwave, the cloud of dust and forest fires indubitably left a deep impression in the people of that time. Several verses of the Finnish epic "Kalevala", the ancient Germanic "Older Edda" as well as in the folklore of Estonia and the neighbouring peoples indicate that impression.
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Taevas lapati lõhenes
ilma kõiki auklikuksi;
keerles see tulekübeke,
surtsatas punasädeke,
läbi tuiskas taeva'asta,
piki pilvesid pirahtas,
läbi taeva'a üheksa,
kaudu kuue kirjukaane.
Siisap sinna tullessaie
Tuuri uudeje tubaje
pistiski pahule töile,
hakkas töile tooreille:
rikkus rinnad tüttareilta,
neidudelta nännid näppis,
kõrvetas pojalta põlved,
isandalt habeme kärssas.
("Kalevala") |
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Oi imeta või imeta
Mis nägin mina imeta
Õuessagi käiessagi
Nägin Saaremaa põlema
Tule luugista tulema
Sood süütsid, järved põlesid
Kivid keereldi ojusid
Tähed lõivad tääringida
Mõõga otsad mõõringida
Pühi nutab Saare maada
Teine Saaremaa mehida
Nutan Saare neidisida
Vöö kudujad, kooga loojad
Rahaskirja kirjutajad
Laia raamatu lugejad.
(Harju-Jaani, Kuusalu) |
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The ancient Greek myth about Phaeton, the son of Sun, who, driving the solar chariot, lost the power over the horses and tumbled into the mysterious river of Eridanos, also leads one's thoughts to the Kaali catastrophe.
One day a young man stepped up to the God of Sun and claimed that he was Phaeton, the son of the God of Sun himself and an earthborn woman Klymene. The young man had doubted his high parentage and demanded affirmation. The God of Sun admitted it, and, as an affirmation, promised to carry out his fondest wish. The boy, who had often admired sun disc's journey across the firmament, uttered an unexpected wish: he wanted to drive the sun chariot across the sky.
Hearing that, the God of Sun regretted his easily given promise. He tried to persuade the youngster to wish for something else, but without success. The boy, taking no heed of the menaces he was told about, had his will. At first the drive came off quite well and Phaeton felt himself almost the lord of the sky. But then the things took a tragic turn: the spirited horses, feeling that the reins were in weak hands, became frisky and sheered from the right direction. The youngster lost power over the horses, who now dashed up to the skies, now turned right down to the Earth so that forests and fields there caught fire, rivers and fountains evaporated and dried out.
When the cries and lamentations from the Earth reached Jupiter's ears, the latter, in this emergency, seized his lightning bolts and punished the irresponsible charioteer. The blazing Phaeton shot through the air and fell on the Earth into the mysterious river of Eridanos, which no mortal eye has seen. Phaeton's sisters Heliads, daughters of the God of Sun, Helios, sought out their brother's grave to bemoan him there. The mourning sisters were turned into poplar trees on the banks of Eridanos. |
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