Hellig Kvinde, Neolithic menhir site in Bornholm, Denmark
Hellig Kvinde is a Neolithic megalithic site comprised of eleven granite monoliths arranged in an oval formation. Nine of the stones create a distinctive ring pattern near a river mouth and shape the landscape where they stand.
The stone arrangement dates to the Neolithic period and reflects early human settlements and ritual practices in prehistoric Scandinavia. The careful positioning suggests the stones were erected for ceremonial or sacred purposes.
The name means 'Holy Woman,' stemming from a local legend where the tallest stone represents a mother and the smaller ones her children turned to stone for safety. Walking among the stones, visitors can sense this family narrative embedded in the landscape itself.
The site features informational signs and walking paths that allow visitors to explore the archaeological landscape at their own pace. Public access is available and the setting is suitable for a leisurely walk among the stones.
Maritime tradition held that sailors respectfully greeted the 'Holy Woman' and her stone children when sailing past the monument. This long-standing seafaring custom reveals how deeply the site was woven into the culture of coastal communities.
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