The wooden tower burned until dawn the next day and finally turned into ashes, and the last relics were collected by Rurik himself.
Rurik was clearly collecting the last remains of his wife and concubine Mary, and a wooden box contained the last relics. In a secluded place on the shores of Lake Ilmen, Rurik built a tomb to bury her.
This area has also been designated as a cemetery for nobles.
Neither Otto nor Nia spoke loudly. They took advantage of Mary's death to tell their son what happened after their death.
“Novgorod is a good place. We will be buried here, and many people also talk about being buried here. People are mortal, and my soul will go to Asgard, and my body will go to Asgard. Turn into ashes and be buried in this cemetery. I want to set up a stone monument to let my descendants know their ancestors."
The cemetery is the spiritual connection between the settlers and their ancestors. Even if priests and priests describe a wonderful soul destination, maybe it exists, but the living always hope to face their ancestors. As a result, the marble coffin lid was engraved with a relief of the deceased. By doing this, the nobles let their descendants know the appearance of their ancestors.
This is not idolatry. Even a Frankish die-hard like Eskil would not say anything on this issue.
Because the iconoclastic movement in Europe has ended.
Otto is already very old. An old soldier never dies, he just slowly withers away and grows old. Rurik guessed that Otto might want to die in a battle, but this idea was destined to never come true.
Many old people will die in the coming years. A group of old people from Rus’ settled in Novgorod this winter and will also die here in the future.
It is necessary to use stone to erect a monument for the veteran soldier, and directly hire someone who is good at carving to make a bust for him. Presumably this form of tombstone should also be a Slavic characteristic, just like what the residents here did more than a thousand years later.
The winter solstice of the Julian calendar finally arrived. Before it arrived, a tall tower was erected on a wasteland beside the lake. The snow was cleared, and a tower of pine and fir was erected. It is very tall and conical in shape.
It has ten stikas and is as high as a four-story residential building. The base is in a fairly regular rectangular shape and its length and width are six.
Rurik built it by employing local readily available labor, and the local Slavs also did it for a reason.
In the past Winter Solstice "Festival to the God of Fire", they would not erect such a huge tower. Firstly, it was unnecessary, and secondly, it would consume too much materials.
The Varyag people, mainly Rus, decided to settle down and built a magnificent tower in the first winter. The flames it ignited could also warm the people and even melt the snow in a large area. , like a little sun.
Building a tower is rewarded with salt and silver coins, and the tower is built quickly driven by real interests.
After the wooden frame was built, a large number of grease-rich pine branches were piled upward, becoming a flammable object.
But it takes a process to let it burn as a whole. When it becomesBuilding a fire tower is also the most critical moment for sacrifice.
The sunshine has begun to become stingy, and the days have shortened rapidly in recent days, and anyone can really feel it.
The Julian calendar has not yet been revised to the Gregorian calendar, so the winter solstice is postponed to December 28th.
With the current calendar, this date will continue to be postponed. But every year, it still trembles for more than ten hours.
This place is much better than his hometown in Roseburg. There are many advantages to not having the polar night. Rurik decided to make good use of this winter.
Rurik selected a wooden ridge and gathered a group of people to establish the etiquette standards for this year's sacrifice.
The priests and goddesses of White Tree Manor were invited and sat in front of Rurik anxiously. They wanted to say something, but they were also worried that their words about the ceremony would make Prince Rus angry.
Rurik also had arrangements. Seeing that the local priest was dumbfounded, he took the initiative to ask: "How many rituals are there in your grand sacrifice? Don't be afraid. Tell the truth. I rule here and I am very impressed by your rituals." Interested."
A bald male priest took the courage to say: "Just go around the fire tower, sing some songs, and kill a few animals and throw them into the fire. ."
"That's it? That's it?" Rurik felt that this person was perfunctory.
"Sir, this is what we...do, otherwise what else can we do?"
Rurik scratched his head and asked the goddesses who were good at smearing their faces with chalk mud to explain. But he saw these goddesses whining non-stop, and Rurik didn't understand them at all.
"Forget it." Rurik waved his hand, "It seems that you don't want to host the ceremony. It just so happens that I intend to host it myself. As long as you continue to cooperate with me, you can continue to enjoy special treatment."
p>Since White Tree Manor is a traditional Slavic commune, the small group of priests, goddesses and pharmacists inside are the ones who receive material support from the people. This situation is very natural, but they are not yet capable of competing for the dominance of the manor.
Then the monarch who controls the theocratic power, military power, financial power and other powers of the Principality of Rus is a dimensionality-reducing blow to the local Slavic priests.
The local priests and goddesses very cleverly expressed their unconditional servantship and respected the prince as the high priest, so things would be much easier to handle.
Rurik nodded and looked sideways at the wives and concubines of the lower-level priests, led by Nolen, who were sitting upright.
"Nolen, just as we arranged, I want you to play."
"Yes, as long as it is the music you have given me, my sisters and I can play it." ." She said firmly.
“Not just playing, but singing.”
“Which one is it?”
“That’s it. Rossia Vith Svietaheimr” (Rossia Vith Svietaheimr) Holy Home)."
Nolan nodded: "Any more?"
"Of course, this is the only song that represents our Principality of Rus. No one else plays the flute but you. Your singing is the most beautiful and can touch everyone's heart. ”
“Okay. ”
Russian has a song that represents her will, or the will of all Russians. Rurik is not a musician, but he very naturally adapted a widely circulated melody. .
The melody belongs to Ross, and it starts with a standard classic tongue-picking sound, shouting out Ross in a concise and concise way.
As for the lyrics, Rurik did some magic. It was changed to cope with the current situation, so it is also divided into two dialects, the Nostic Rus dialect and the Slavic Ilmen dialect.
Singing and playing music are important parts of the ceremony, and Nolen will express himself here. His abilities are vividly displayed.
But the instruments are too limited. The only eagle bone flutes and leather drums can constitute the classic medieval music performance mode. Rurik currently only has these two instruments.
p>As for the harp, its volume is limited and it is not suitable for playing in public. The Principality of Rus does not have one in stock.
Its own wives and concubines can perform most of the rituals. Just follow the routine of Roseburg's hometown.
The ceremony is naturally divided into two parts, the first is the traditional Viking ceremony, and the second is the Slavic "fire tower circle"
When the local priest "gives up the treatment", Rurik feels that he has a golden opportunity. He wants to establish spiritual contact with the local Slavs through this ceremony.
He is sure that everyone is willing. Take the initiative to accept novel things. If you just go around the fire tower, this kind of ritual is indeed lively but not entertaining enough?
Any ritual activity is a gathering opportunity that everyone likes to see, and it essentially becomes a kind of gathering. Entertainment.
Let it be truly entertaining! New music and songs must be delivered to the hearts of the people through this winter solstice gathering.
Rurik successfully arranged the ceremony. According to the regulations, the boat-shaped altar built with wooden piles in front of the wooden tower has also been built.
The Russians must make a show when they arrive, and it is precisely the prince of Russia who has the financial resources to show off! >Rurik once learned that Hafgen, the Danish leader he killed, publicly beheaded one hundred and eleven slaves as a human sacrifice to Odin before he decided to take revenge on the newly born Swedish Kingdom.
The Principality of Rus had done this kind of thing in the ancient tribal era, but it obviously hadn't been done in the following decades until now. At least the "note board" left by the deceased Vilia was not described in the sacrificial records.
I think this kind of thing is related to the fact that the Russians have been unable to obtain slaves for a long time, and now that the Russians have emerged from the narrow fjords, a strange principality has emerged, and there is no need to plunder slaves, or in other words. If there is a smarter way, don't waste it.
Five cows were selected as sacrifices. Rurik actually spent money to buy these old cows, and the owner of the cows also sold them.Very happy. When cows get old and are no longer able to produce milk or calves, it is their fate to be slaughtered. Now it is also appropriate to sacrifice them as sacrifices.
In addition to the old cow as a sacrifice, there were also fifty chickens killed in recent days and a hundred frozen bass.
This was an animal sacrifice, as well as a sack of oats as a food offering, and a roll of patterned cloth as a special offering.
The local Slavs have never seen this kind of sacrifice. Rurik also knows that doing this is a wasteful act. He feels it is necessary to do it on special days.
Everything is ready!
The people of the entire White Tree Manor walked out of their homes and the wooden city walls of Novgorod that protected them, formed a mighty torch army, and walked along the frozen Volkhov River to the shores of Lake Ilmen .
A huge cone-shaped wooden tower stands in front of you, and the sunset turns it orange in the soft light.
It is a huge red tower!
Slavs all like the color red, and the Klivi Slavs went even more outrageous. The color of blood, flames, and sunsets are red, so the name of the Krivi tribe was derived from this.
This group of Ilmen Slavs also called themselves Slavinje, the so-called "glorious ones", and now they began to call themselves New Rus's.
Now that merger means strength, the Slavic people of White Tree Manor, who have tasted the benefits for several years, not only accept Varyag's winter solstice rituals, but also look forward to seeing the world.
Rurik has released news about the sacrifices used in the so-called ceremony, as well as some necessary and new procedures...
Thousands of people gathered at the lakeside, and they were dressed very thickly. hairy. They stepped on the extremely thick leather boots and stood on the snow, trampling it into ice.
Otto held two-year-old Velika, and Niya held Reglaf, who was only ten days old. Young children must participate in this ceremony. Because it is not only a ceremony, but also the spiritual sustenance of the Russian people.
Bonfires were lit in many areas, lighting up the entire venue. When the moon rises, the snowy world becomes clearly visible.
Rurik has been waiting for the time, and it would be best to start the ceremony at midnight. Unfortunately, he cannot determine the time through the Big Dipper.
It doesn’t matter, when the moon rises high enough, the sacrifice begins.
The foundation of the city of Novgorod is indeed White Tree Manor. She has indeed become a city in every sense. Now with the arrival of the first batch of Varyag permanent residents, the population has expanded to Scale of 7,000 people.
Seven thousand pairs of eyes saw a fantastic team.
Rurik was dressed in white fur, followed by a group of girls in plain clothes and covered with gems (stained glass). The girls played the flute or drums, and the sound of music was very beautiful.
They are none other than the prince’s wives and concubines! Rigus's youngest daughter Svetlana is here too, and she's actually playing the flute!
Huh? The governor's sister and the youngest daughter of Ligus, she actually became a priest! This is also considered a priest? ! Without chalk coating, they participated in the ceremony like fairies.
Indeed, Rurik could not feel any sense of holiness from the local priests who painted their faces with chalk mud. Who knows why they did this and made themselves ugly.
Since it is a sacrificial ceremony, any priests involved must at least keep it clean.
Behind them were some people leading oxen and pushing and pulling two-wheeled vehicles. Cattle and vehicle loads were sacrifices.
The group of people deliberately slowed down and walked into the wooden boat altar in a very ostentatious manner.
It was wonderful that there was no wind tonight. Oil lamps were lit on each wooden pile, and Rurik stepped into them.
Nolen led the other girls into the altar and began to play the songs.
The crowd, which was roaring at the beginning, miraculously fell silent almost instantly. This is not the power of music, but their reverence for the gods.
A fool can see from the current situation that the formal ceremony has begun.
Nolen has a melodious voice and a three-dimensional face with blond hair. She is the most typical Viking, like an elf born in the ice and snow.
The song "Ross Our Sacred Home" was sung loudly by her, and the accompanying flutes and drums further enhanced the atmosphere.
The songs in Norse were mostly incomprehensible to the locals, until Norun began singing in Slavonic.
Those who only found the melody beautiful and interesting immediately straightened their bodies, and the originally quiet scene suddenly became agitated.
The people with sullen faces began to smile. Even though those standing far away could only hear roughly, some key lyrics were still heard.
The Prince of Rus is singing the praises of this land! Although the prince is an outsider, the prince does not want to be an outsider!
The young Prince of Rus made a promise to everyone that Novgorod would become a better place.
Rurik expressed his will through a series of ballads and music. These pieces of music are far better than the short folk songs of the locals. The melodies are gentle and the lyrics are very profound.
This is like a concert, Nolen’s home court!
Rurik noticed that his wife and concubine really enjoyed the spotlight. At this moment, she was a singer.
Her voice will eventually have a limit, and Rurik doesn’t want Canary to break her voice.
When the music stopped, Rurik opened his arms and drew his sword.
The most important sacrifice was led to the altar, and he slit the cow's throat cleanly.
The blood of the five cows blended into the land, and they gradually became quiet and cooled down.
The joyful atmosphere became suffocating again. The Slavic people saw the young prince slaughtering the cow himself. His technique was so sophisticated!
"Pull the cow to the wooden tower and prepare to light it!" Rurik stretched out his hand full of cow blood and ordered his men to do things quickly.
The cow carcasses are still hot, and some cows are not dead yet. The cow was pulled under the tower, and the other sacrifices were simply thrown directly into the tower.middle.
The final finale is now!
It was at this time that the local priests and goddesses painted with chalk mud appeared.
Rurik shouted some Viking prayers in the altar, and now it was these Slavic priests who shouted some words.
However, everyone’s eyes were sharp, and the local priest was muttering. As a result, the people also kept whispering to each other, making the whole scene noisy. This was not the case in the past. When the local priests shouted prayers, the people remained silent.
Rurik was very satisfied with all this. He knew that he had become the focal point of the entire ceremony, and the held-up torch attracted everyone's attention.
The torch was thrown into the wooden tower. It was just a small flame at first, but it was slowly becoming more violent...
The fire burned more and more, and Rurik, who was nearby, felt conscious. Feeling the power of the sun, the night was illuminated. The people who were close were sweating, their faces were burning, and many people took off their thick clothes and retreated spontaneously.
A red fire tower was born. This is the largest torch ever seen on the shores of Lake Ilmen!
Every manor around the lake was celebrating the festival, and as a result, they all noticed a sky that was burned red in the north.
Rurik chose a place by the river, which is a bit far away from the city. He just wanted to let others take a good look at this fire tower.
His plan did achieve the expected results. The most vivid ones were seen in several farms not far away. It was a huge flame, which must be the incarnation of Peron!
Has Peron arrived? It must be so. But God Peron is actually in the northernmost part of the lake. This God of Fire War actually chose Novgorod! Just because the Prince of Rus is there?
Some farm people began to gossip: Prince Rus has been recognized by God Peron, and anyone who violates the will of the prince will be punished by God.
Over there, the Varyags and the Slavs have officially begun their virtual get-together!
Six thousand or seven thousand people gathered together and circled around the flaming giant tower. They turned and roared, and concentric circles appeared one after another. Everyone was enjoying the heat that should not be felt in this severe winter, as if midsummer was coming...
With such a warm atmosphere, the Russian people went crazy, and people of all ages Many children also followed the adults and yelled, including infant children.
They each have their own agenda. The Slavs hope to continue to be blessed by the power of God Peron, so that there will be no disasters in the future. The Russians were also spinning in circles, each keen on looking at the sky, looking for traces of the Valkyrie's parade.
This crazy joy did not end until the second night, because the fire tower burned out and naturally collapsed and turned into scorched earth.
Rurik slept in a tent in the snow. Many people had already returned to the city on foot or by horse-drawn sleigh, but he could not leave.
The sun on the winter solstice is so meaningful that most Russians did not leave. They waited here for the wonderful sunrise over the glacial lake. This was actually the first time for many people to see the sun on the winter solstice.
This is alsoWith this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Rurik stood up and measured the shadow, and his wife and concubines immediately recorded the data.
Rurik directly calculated the precise latitude of Novgorod, which is of great military significance. It's just that this kind of behavior is completely submerged in the joy of the festival.
Welcome to the year 835 AD!