Thyrsus (giant)

The giant thyrsus is a legendary figure from the Tyrol, which is said to have lived in Leithen at Reith.

Thyrsus is mentioned in the legend of the Giant Haymon. According to tradition, he was stronger, skillful and half a head taller than Haymon.

At the time of the plague Thyrsus to be seriously ill. In order not to infect the rest of the villagers, he should have retired in the vaulted cellar of his house, which Leithen has been spared from the plague.

General

Thürse, Thürsus or Thurse are in Germanic mythology names of primeval giants. The Rime Giants are therefore frost and frost giants, derived from world giant Ymir.

In the legend of the Giant Haymon however thyrsus is a proper name.

Tradition

The cause of the dispute between the two giant Haymon and thyrsus is variously:

A tradition tells that Thyrsus from neuzugereisten Haymon ( " Rhinelander " ) provoked felt because he already lived for ages in the Upper Inn Valley.

Another tradition speaks of a sudden destruction of Haymons castle. A variant of this tradition reports that Thyrsus destroyed the castle, while Haymon asleep. Another form of this tradition says that Haymons human neighbors had committed the crime, and that Haymon was applied by the accusation of a farmer against Thyrsus because the farmer called knowing the innocent Thyrsus as the perpetrator.

The battle between the two giants was according to tradition the hamlet Thyrschenbach - today: Dirschenbach - instead.

In the course of the struggle Haymon stabbed with his sword the thyrsus a deep wound in the heel, so that a beam of bright blood sprang out. Thyrsus took a Wasen, stuffed so that the wound and fled into
Karwendel. The
many
blood ,
which he had lost

,
seeped into

rock. Haymon but caught up with him near the Leitner Kogel and slew him. The last words of the giant Thyrsus should have been: " spray Bluet! Be good for beast and man! "

Only
long
time
later ,
the
history
was
long
forgotten as
,
found
farmers
the healing
Thyrsusblut - from
this " Dirschenblut "
called -
in
the
stones
the
Karwendel mountains
. The healing Tyrolean stone oil is extracted from the Thyrsenblut.

Miscellaneous

• Opposite the Chapel of the Holy St. Magnus in Reith (already in Leithen ) is the giant house where Thyrsus to have lived.
• Thyrsus is presented together with a fish (symbolizing the mineral oil ) in the coat of arms of Reith bei Seefeld.