Tarasque

The Tarasque is the dragon, which the legend, the southern French town of Tarascon its name. In the 12th century, the tradition about the Tarascan, the vanquished of Saint Martha Beast ( 1187 discovery of Martha relics, New direction of the 1197 church dedicated to Sainte -Marthe ) spread. To date, the taming of the Dragon is celebrated by the Virgin every year at Pentecost with a parade.

Tradition

Tarascon was formerly a small village called Nerluc. There drove a giant dragon with shimmering blue steel shed the loose. The dragon devoured both livestock as well as hikers and young women. He destroyed the country and the farms of the farmers. The residents of Nerluc were desperate and wanted from the tyranny of the Tarasque, as the dragon was called, free. So marched sixteen of the bravest men on the bank of the river, in which there was Tarasque, the Rhône to fight him, but without success. Half of the men was burnt by the fire of the dragon beam, the rest fled, happy to have survived the adventure.

The villagers of Nerluc decided to ask the king for help. But he had other problems he had to devote himself. The noble knight felt that the Tarasque only auffräße stupid peasants and all the effort was not worthwhile, as the dragon guarding no treasure and no virgin who would win. With this message, the messengers returned to Nerluc. The village seemed lost.

At the same time put on a small ship at Les -Saintes -Maries -de- la-Mer. A young woman in a white dress came ashore. It was the Saint Martha. The residents of Nerluc asked the saint for help, and Martha agreed.

She protected with two branches, which she held in the form of a cross in front of him. So they went to the river and sat on a large rock on the shore and began to sing. The dragon loved music and singing. Enchanted by the delicate voice of Martha, appeared on the Tarasque from the river and lay down to listen to the song. Martha sang until the dragon asleep. Then she took a rope and tied it around the neck of the beast.

The people of Nerluc were scared when they with their old enemy, who was now tame as a puppy, the road saw coming along St. Martha. But the fear gave way to anger and vindictiveness. The inhabitants of Nerluc punished the dragon for the years of oppression and pelted him with stones. St. Martha tried to stop the applied people, as the Trasque fell suddenly to the ground dead.

Customs

Reminder Nerluc is now called Tarascon and every year at Pentecost the Tarasquefest is organized in the city on the Rhone. In addition, the dragon is seen in the arms of the city.

In role -playing game Dungeons and Dragons, the dragon-like monster " Tarrasque " to be fought, which takes its name from this legend.

Martha soothes the Tarasque.