The need to set memory marks is still alive. The here listed are the most used designs and reasons for erection.
Expiation crosses stem roughly from the 13th -16th century and at=re monuments of medieval law. They were compliance part of expiation contracts between enemy parties to end blood feuds due to murder or manslaughter. Depicted on them are pictures of the murder weapon or job-typical equipment of the murdered person as the farmers were not able to read. With the introduction of the commercial law order under Emperor Charles V they 'officially' abolished. But only the 17th century got finally rid of them.
Stone crosses are as the name says stones in cross form. These originated in the16th century. They were set as weather, plague, station crosses by pilgrims and processions or as border marks by church parochies.
Cross stones could have the most different origin stories. Some of them can be allocated for example to expiation crosses; they only differ in the basic form. This could have regional reasons or was dependent on the donor's funds.
Murder and memorial stones were set since the 16th century. These were furnished with pictures, words and dates. They refer to an important or dramatic event like tragic accidents, devious murders but also more joyful occasions like the slaying of the region's last bear, lynx or wolf.
Wayside shrines, martyrs, prayer pillars were erected in the late Middle Ages for the most diverse reasons. Some folklore descriptions are 'court martyrs' or 'murder martyrs'. These descriptions give usually the first indication for the occasion of the setting. The continued existence and development of the wayside shrine theme runs through centuries.
Bautzen
Location: At the Taucherfriedhof Part 2, north of the Frankschen tomb, at the empty space between this and the Reißnerschen family vault.
History: Called 'murder stone'. Octagonal pyramid stub in the form of a narrow pillar. At all eight sides at the same height, circulating cornice, each a similar Latin cross with forked shaft, as flat relief rising from the base, at the zenith a square screw-anchor hole for a former existing cross. The cross is missing since 1509(?) including plinth with the date 1404. Now put on square granite plinth. The stone stood until 1598 at the Töpferstraße. (Müller / Quietzsch 1977)
Myth: The Bautzen mayor alderman Martin Bischoffswerde was murdered in 1404 with one of his sons on a ride to Gröditz. The other son, on the run, fell from his horse at the Töpfergasse and died.
Groß-Seitschen
Location: Cross stands at a cherry tree in front of a group of houses.
History: The stone cross is very hard to find as it is now situated under road level due to road construction work.
South of the village between Großseitschen and the railway station Seitschen, 1,5m west at the road to Gaußig at the slope towards a field, 85m north of the first farm track, which, counting from the station, turns west from the road. the inscription of the memorial stones reads:
28. Sept. 1903 |
Gräfenhain
Location: At the south-east village exit, immediately at the village road at the entry to the former manor.
History: At the front one can clearly see a scratched drawing of a mattock. The cross is being described by the people as 'murder cross'."
Myth: The scratched mattock reinterpreted as hatchet or axe, it is said in the area that two carpenters once fought over a girl, charged towards each other and one of them killed the other with a hatchet.
Kotten
Location: Directly at the road to Kotten, in a bend surrounded by some trees.
History: Naming: "Dead Girl". High granite pillar, three sides with motifs. Designed in colour. The people still know the story of the girl who wanted to go to a wedding. The place has still today an important meaning.
There, a young Wendish godmother has apparently been strangled and robbed by a Bohemian soldier. As the murderer could get the weaved-in hair jewellery, he cut off the victims head. The population still commemorates the innocent victim, and puts a little branch down at the pillar and names the place "Dead Girl". (Wendt 1925)
Weißkollm
Location: North of the path, which runs from the village road into the former manor park, in a garden next to a yew tree.
History: Large double cross, upper beam shorter than the lower one, shaft square at the lower part, at ca 30cm height octagonal shaft cross-section of the arms as well as head. At the west side a sword, handle and cross-guard at the lower crossing, tip nor preserved through breakage. Length still 80cm, handle length 19cm, the length of the cross-guard is 23cm, blade width is 6cm. The handle at the pommel area is slightly snapped. At the east side in the lower cross is a irregular square (16:20cm). In the lower part of the shaft old broken and merged with iron cuffs. Later broken again. At the beginning of the 70s again fitted with cuffs and erected.
Myth: The cross remembers a duel that ended in death.
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