Glossary

Abstract sculpture

The abstract geometry of the sculpture, combined with its complex and changing texture, made even the most experienced experts in the ant art world lose themselves to sweet contemplation. The inviting smell of chocolate and hazelnuts (as is was dropped from snacks bag) created a truly joyful atmosphere for all visitors.

Aleksandr Goloborodko

Aleksandr Goloborodko is a Soviet and Russian film and theatre actor of Ukrainian origin. He is known to the general public for his portrayal of Gabriel, the main character in the cult film The Last Relic (1969), which was filmed in the Taevaskoja forest and has become a classic of Estonian cinema.

An emotional speech

At the end of this imaginary speech during the exhibition opening Gabriel was close to tears.

Artists

This project was created by artists Sigrid Viir (EST) and Līga Spunde (LV) for the initiative “ArCo3 – Artists in Collections, Communities and Collectives”, that is part of the main program of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.

At the boat dock

The exact location of the riverboat “Lonny” is: Kiidjärve village, Saesaare harbour, Põlva county, Estonia, European Union, Earth.

Attractive stranger

An elegant stranger with dark hair, about 45 years old, smiling and polite, wearing a white t-shirt and bleached denim trousers with its ends rolled up.

Away

I am somewhere else right now, will be back tomorrow

Bat

So far, 14 species of bats have been found in Estonia: the northern bat, the park bat, the dwarf bat, the pygmy bat, the great bat, the lesser bat, the brown big-eared bat, the silver bat, the Natterer's flycatcher, the crested flycatcher, the spotted flycatcher, the water bat, the tiger flycatcher and the European spotted bat. 10 of them are already identified as living around in Taevaskoja!

Belt-Jacob

Jacob was a peasant who lived in Kiidjärv. The nickname “Belt” comes from the fact that in the old days the squire used to beat serfs with a belt, including Jacob.

Breakdance performance

Breakdance is a type of street dance born in the 1970s in New York, USA. It is characterised by expressive movements, acrobatics, active footwork and improvisational elements. Imagined breakdance performance by Gabriel during the Friday’s exhibition opening was mostly improvised movements, known in breakdance terminology as drops: dramatic transitions or sudden movements where the dancer drops to the ground, often followed by a freeze or a continuation of the routine.

Captain

The captain is the leader of the team. Often, a captain leads a ship, an aeroplane or a sports team. Or even a riverboat!

Carrying heavy loads

The amount of weight a person can carry and move usually depends on the strength and physical endurance of the individual, but it is generally believed that on average a person who is carrying 20% of their body weight is still able to move without problems. “Heavy loads” can of course not be just physical.

Cave

The caves of South Estonia are often called “hells” and are where the Old Pagans live and go about their daily business. Besides the Old Pagans, the Virgins and the Mother Wolf are also known to live in the caves of Taevaskoja. There are also caves with secret passages leading directly to Riga and Kyiv. During wars, the Taevaskoja caves have also been used as shelters for locals. In the old Estonian language, a cave was called an “oos”.

City-slicker

A person who lives in the city and is expected to contribute to the prosperity of the rural tourism sector. More people came to Taevaskoja thanks to the 1931 creation of the railway line and later in the Soviet era thanks to the popularity of organised bus tours. Tales describing various incidents of names being carved into the sandstone date from this period. Today, there is a shortage of tourists, and sandstone carving is forbidden by law!

Closed

we are not there

Comb

A toothed object for hair styling. According to ethnographers, the comb probably did not play a very important role in Estonia’s older methods of self-grooming. It is possible that this is why it was seen as an accessory of supernatural beings. According to legends, in one of the caves of Taevaskoja lives a virgin who spends eternity combing her golden curls.

Cross tree

Cross trees are an old funeral tradition in Southern Estonia, which can also be found in Vidzeme, Latvia. The cross tree is most often a large conifer such as a spruce or pine. This tradition involves the ritual carving of a cross into the tree chosen for the deceased. The carved cross serves as a dividing line between the afterlife and our world. It is believed that this is done so that the soul of the deceased does not become a haunt – that it does not come back and take others with it.

Curator

Project “Lonny the Enchanter”, which is part of the larger initiative “ArCo3 – Artists in Collections, Communities and Collectives” has two curators, Maarin Ektermann and Mary-Ann Talvistu. Both were present at the opening event.

Cutting down trees

Part of the forest had to be cut down in 1950s to build a hydroelectric power station, which flooded the Ahja River thus creating an artificial lake. The trees in the Ahja valley were cut in haste, in winter, when the forest was covered with a thick layer of snow. This explains why there are long stumps on the lake bed that in places can be up to a person's waist.

Dark-eyed creature

Witches are said to have dark brown or black eyes; also mismatched eyes are often considered to be “the eyes of witches”.

Devil

In Estonian, the Devil is also called “Old Pagan”. The Old Pagan is characterised above all by stupidity, while the Devil is known for evil. The Devil wants to do evil to people, while the Old Pagan wants to do what people do, but lacks the skills (according to writer Jaan Kaplinski). “Pagan” is an Old Russian loan word from the Latin word “paganus”, which originally meant a villager, a countryman.

Donation in pure gold

It seems that the lost Swedish gold that was allegedly once dropped into Ahja river may have finally turned up.

Dormancy

is a pause in the cycle of life

Emptiness

is not always bad

Envy

“Cabbages do not grow in envy” (Estonian proverb). Evolutionary psychologists have found that envy works best when the comparable can be compared. Envy is ambivalent and can be both inhibiting and creative.

Everywhere

should be a holiday today

Fatigue

“Tired as a squeezed cranberry” (Noa, Paslepa). While fatigue was once considered a bad sign and sometimes the result of witchcraft, today it is known that sleep is the best cure for fatigue. If you are tired, rest!

Fishermen

A fisherman is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. The Ahja River is rich in its diversity of plants and aquatic animals. Around 32 species of fish, the most popular being roach, perch, pike and bream, have been identified in the river.

Gabriel's pine

A pine tree in Väike-Taevaskoja, named after the protagonist of the cult film The Last Relic (1969). It was at this pine tree that one of the characters, Ivo Schenkenberg uttered the words that have become part of Estonian pop culture’s treasure trove: “We are all for sale in one way or another. Some are just more expensive than others,” and other character, Gabriel was stabbed in the back (from which he later recovered).

Gain eternal youth

To obtain eternal youth, you need to collect 7 different rare flowers under the light of the full moon. Then boil them in spring water at midnight, cool them and while drinking the potion, visualise youth. After finishing the drink, you must bathe in a moonlit spring. Coming out of the bath, you will have been reborn into eternal youth. If necessary, repeat the ritual on the second Thursday of the following month.

Gossip

Hides the desire to control and understand the environment. Oddly enough, gossip has often chosen the path of prejudice and finding a common scapegoat. For example, Estonian proverbs say of a gossip: “Sometimes they put a bull where there is not even a hoof” or “Don’t burn your mouth with cold broth” or “Heat the oven, but don’t let the fire shoot out of the chimney”. I wonder what kind of gossip would be spread by a spruce bark beetle, who runs wild in these forests here?

Guide

Our guide's name was Laura. Nature and history were her passion, but she worked as a guide only in summer. In her everyday life, she studied social sciences at the University of Tartu.

Here

is not a soul

Himmaste

Himmaste is a small village in Valga County, Estonia, close to the Latvian border. It is an idyllic place for travellers looking for peace, quiet and activities in nature. The village is known for its beautiful countryside scenery and the Himmaste Lake.

Horses

The film The Last Relic (1969) features several dynamic scenes involving horses, but the scene at the Otten’s Mill remains vivid in the minds of many. It shows a dynamic chase which leads to a horse falling off a bridge into the river. There are two versions of this story – one that the horse was fine after the fall, the other that unfortunately it died. Only the film-makers know what really happened.

I

rest today

Ice cream cone

In this story this is a slightly melted chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone.

Information board

Part of the project “Lonny the Enchanter” that artists Sigrid Viir (EST) and Līga Spunde (LV) have created (and of what you are already part of by playing this game), are also information boards that one can find in Taevaskoja forest trails – go and experience them as well!

Inhabitants of Maarja village

Maarja village (2001– ) is an extraordinary place in a beautiful forest on the banks of the Ahja River, which has become home to people with learning disabilities. The people living there are incredibly creative – various arts and crafts activities are part of their daily routine. Another cherished activity of the residents of Maarja village is to walk down to the bank of the Ahja River and wave to the boat “Lonny” as it approaches its dock. Receiving a greeting back is a cause for great joy for the residents, so don’t shy away!

Investment portfolio

Estonians seem to be gripped by investment fever and the more progressive part of the population has started to increase their financial literacy. We read in the media that an investment portfolio can be as varied as a patchwork quilt; it can also be conservative or aggressive. Such a gold rush would make even the eyes of the Old Pagan sparkle!

Lazy landscape

rests in winter

Lifebug

“A person has a soul; a bastard has a fume” (Southern Estonia). In Estonian folklore, the soul has also been called the soul of life, the body bird, the life cricket, the soul creature etc. The image of the soul is closely connected with the journey of the soul from the body and also from one being to another. The souls of both the living and the dead appear as birds, animals and insects. For example, the Estonian word for a beetle, “mardikas”, is derived from the Permian name for the dead, “mardus”, which suggests that the souls of the dead migrate to insects.

Lonny the Enchanter

Lonny knew as many stories and legends about Taevaskoja as nobody else. She had witnessed some of the wonders with her own eyes.

Looked into the dark cave

It is said that the sandstone caves of Taevaskoja are home to spiritual beings and they should not be disturbed. It is allowed to have a little look inside the cave, but it is strictly forbidden to go inside. If you break this unwritten rule, you risk losing your hearing, sight or even your mind!

Lounging

with no guilt whatsoever

Lovesickness

There are several legends about the Spy's Stone in Taevaskoja, one of which says that a woman in love went to a witch for help. The witch promised to help and started witching. In order to succeed, the witch had to put her nose in water, but since the water in the Ahja river is cold, she had to turn her nose into a stone first. But just as she started to say “My nose to stone!“, a crab came and pinched the witch’s nose. In pain, the witch’s words got muddled and she said “Me to stone!” instead. And there she is, as a stone, eternally in the cold river water.

Maybugs

Maybugs are widespread throughout Europe, including Estonia. They are most commonly seen in summer, between June and August. As maybugs are nocturnal, they are particularly attracted to artificial light and on summer evenings can often be found hovering around light bulbs. Although they are considered a pest, maybugs are harmless to humans and make up an important part of the ecosystem.

Me

Vacation at the end of the world with me

Mõsu Hill

The Mõsumägi or the Kakumägi Hill is a place on the banks of the river Ahja, named after laundresses – 19th century women from the Valgesoo village who went to the river to wash clothes and to chat. Doing laundry played a very important social role at this time – it was the time of the day when the latest news was discussed and gossip could be exchanged.

My friend

My friends are also your friends!

No

we will not do it today

Nothing

is more complicated than it might seem at first sight

Official

One of the most heated local debates, with officials involved, is the question of whether to preserve the man-made Saesaare reservoir or restore the natural river cataract. There are arguments for both choices.

Otten's Mill

The Otten’s Mill Bridge is best known as the location featured in the film The Last Relic (1969). Here, the character Siim blocks his pursuers from reaching the bridge. The situation reaches its culmination in the famous scene of horses falling into the water. The Mill Bridge, which also functioned as a mill, was built in 1916 by Jaan Otten, after whom it is named.

Reason for a feast

It is important to celebrate both small and big victories! Celebrations make it possible to have fun, to be entertained and to relax, while such conditions help to reduce stress, tension and anxiety, which can have a negative impact not only on one's mood but also on one's health.

Reminisce about the project

Gabriel's favourite scene in the movie The Last Relic, right after the romantic kiss scene with the beautiful Agnes, was the one with the chase and escape in the carriage through the beautiful Taevaskoja valley.

Remote work

Work done outside its usual environment. Riverboat “Lonny” offers remote working possibility in the countryside and is part of the Kupland network of remote work centres in Põlva, Valga and Võru counties. For the purposes of this story, remote work is treated here as witchcraft.

Riga

Riga is the capital of Latvia and the largest and most populous city in the Baltics. It has at least 609 489 inhabitants – one third of Latvia's population.

Salamaa

“Secret Land” in Estonian – a campsite 15-minutes away by foot from the Great Taevaskoda, run by the same people as riverboat “Lonny”, Kalmer Tint and Iia Timmi.

Scary Banana

At dusk, the forest starts to bustle. Creatures hiding from tourists in the daylight breathe a sigh of relief and crawl out of their hiding places. This includes the Scary Banana, who had perfectly blended into the snake community, and was chilling on one of the stumps along the trail. Actually, the Scary Banana wasn't all that scary, it had just darkened over time, like its mates.

Scary video of dark underwater creatures

It is not known what were the creatures in the video, but it is clear that they were not fish.

Sleeping

in, long and with pleasure. Sleep is a miracle cure.

Solar panels

The riverboat “Lonny” is equipped with solar panels, which allow it to move in complete silence, without an engine roaring.

Spend an evening in the Iglusauna

“Thank you @iglucraft. I really appreciate it in this cold weather,“ said David Beckham in an Instagram post in 2018 to his more than 52 million followers. In the picture, the footballer is sitting on a bench in front of his freshly purchased Iglusauna (Igloo sauna), made in Estonia (this post got 842 817 likes). One Iglusauna can also be found much closer, in the Salamaa camping site.

Spy's Stone

There are several legends connected to that stone. One of these tells about an enemy spy who was sent to eavesdrop on war-time commanders hid behind this large stone. The spy was spotted and, as punishment for his actions, he was shot with an arrow that turned him into a stone.

Squirrel Situ

Situ (“Shit!”), a squirrel, had been staying at the Salamaa campsite for some time, where he helped on the farm, entertained guests and shat everywhere. Now Situ is happily back in the wild.

Stealing

Associated in folklore with deprivation, greed, cunning and stupidity. Swindling and stealing take place because one is poor, pinching because one feels a lack, filching because one wants more, heisting because one’s heart won’t give one peace, etc. “Don’t touch a stranger’s porridge if your corn is not in it” (Estonian proverb).

Students on an excursion

School trips are one of the most popular ways to visit Taevaskoja for the first time.

Swallow

The sandstone outcrops on the banks of the Ahja River are also home to countless swallows, which have made themselves comfortable in their self-built sandstone cities. Their caves are located only in the sunlit areas of the sandstone outcrops and are reminiscent of the apartment blocks in the panel house districts.

Swede

Taevaskoja is full of stories about hidden treasures. One of them is about a time when rich Swedes tried to land on the banks of the Ahja River on a boat and crashed, broke their legs and lost all their treasures – pure gold – in the river. It is said that the lost gold still lies in the depths of the river.

Sweet Alien

A sweet alien is a fictional extraterrestrial being, made entirely out of chocolate, known for its kind and gentle nature. Often depicted as friendly and curious about humans and Earth.

Tangled relationship

“Relationships” need not be only reciprocal arrangements of people or groups interacting. A relationship is also the division of two numbers, or the interchange of words in a sentence, or the right amounts of ingredients. “Tangle” or Estonian “pundar”, can be an irregular assemblage of things, but it is also a Latvian loan word from the word “punduris”, dialect “pundurs”, or dwarf. And to add to the confusion, folklore also tells us of Pundar the Strongman.

The Great Taevaskoda Cliff

Taevaskoda is a place where heaven meets Earth. It is believed that every Estonian has been to this place at least once in their life (most often with a class trip or family hike). The great 24 m high sandstone cliffs of Taevaskoda on the banks of the Ahja River are not only an extremely beautiful and popular natural monument, they are also unique for the many stories and legends that give the place a particularly magical atmosphere.

The Last Relic (1969) team

The core of the movie The Last Relic (1969) team included the director of the film Grigori Kromanov, the screenwriter Arvo Valton, the cinematographer Jüri Garšnek, the production designer Rein Raamat, the costume designer Helve Hall, and many others. The cast included more than 20 actors.

The Moon

The Moon is often associated with mystical and supernatural qualities. It is believed that the moon can influence people's behaviour and state of mind, as well as events in nature. The Moon is often depicted having a special relationship with the Sun, and both play an important role in the cosmic equilibrium. The phases of the Moon are believed to influence agriculture, health and also good luck.

The Sun

The Sun plays a very important role in the folklore – it symbolises warmth and light, life and being alive. The Sun is often personified as a powerful celestial body with divine powers. It is seen as a source of energy, vitality and growth, important for both nature and humans.

The Wind

Wind is large-scale movement or flow of gases in the Earth's atmosphere. On Earth, wind accounts for most of the movement of air, which moves relative to the Earth's surface at a speed of at least 0.6 m/s.

Them

With them I would have a vacation at the end of the world.

There

is nobody present today

They

rest until Monday

Tied ribbons on a wish tree

Since ancient times, the Mother's Spring has been considered a natural sanctuary. There is a tree next to the cave of the spring where you can leave a ribbon of cloth as a gift to the forces of nature and the deities. The ribbon must be made of natural materials and tied to the tree lightly; it must not injure or otherwise harm the tree.

To appreciate the million-dollar view

This is the only place on the Taevaskoja trail from which you can simultaneously see four sandstone outcrops on the banks of the Ahja River.

To enjoy the snacks

The bag in this story contained roasted almonds, drinking water and dark chocolate with hazelnuts.

To figure out the distance to the nearest bridge

The sign in front of me indicated that the distance to Taevaskoja is 1,4 km and 4,3 km to Kiidjärve.

To find an after-party

It was decided that the after-party of the exhibition opening would take place in the car park, as there was also a snack bar nearby with french fries on its menu.

To have some liqueur

Gabriel had a flask in his pocket with liquor of the same name as his – Gabriel. The liqueur “Gabriel” is an herbal infusion with notes of apple, black pepper and mint. We can imagine that if it would have been available when the movie The Last Relic was made, it would have had a special status between the members of the film crew and would have become something of an inside joke. Truthfully, liqueur “Gabriel” was inspired by this instant hit movie in 1969 and is still in production.

Torpor

is a method that bats use to keep their energy balanced.

Video of shocked fish

The drowning phone caught the fish just as they were gathering to feast on pieces of white bread thrown in the water by tourists.

Video of the surprised face in a beautiful landscape

The IPhone that was dropped into Ahja river, was bought only less than a week ago, and its owners shrieks could be heard clearly even underwater.

Wandering

the days away

Washed their faces with spring water

It is believed that by washing your face 40 times in the Mother's Spring you become 7 years younger!

Washing laundry

In old times one of the ways laundry was washed was by placing it on stones and immersing it in river water – the rapid stream moved the fabric and grated it against the stone surface, thus creating a natural washing machine.

Went to find a place to recharge

The Taevaskoja forest is said to be a special place charged with energy. One of these places to draw energy is near the Great Taevaskoja cliff. In this energetically charged place, the trees have grown together forming a circle and you can feel the energetic field when standing in the middle of the circle.

Went to find a warm blanket

Although the day was sunny and warm, the evening, when the opening took place, turned chilly, so more and more guests were seen walking around cosily wrapped in blankets adorned with the project logo.

Went to get a drink

In this story, there was an open bar at the exhibition opening, which created a long, but cheerful queue by the drinks counter.

Whirlwind

Also known as False Leg, Viru Auntie, Wind Head, Twister, etc. A creature whose main motive is to make a fortune. In Estonian folklore, it was a common belief that a whirlwind was caused by the soul of a person (a witch) who had temporarily left their body. A frequently used trick to ward off a whirlwind was to throw a blade at the whirlwind, and the soul would be wounded. It is important to remember when becoming a whirlwind that if a temporarily soulless body is found and turned over, the soul can not enter until the body is in its original state.

Wind

blows away the thought of work

Witch

Also known as the Enchanter, Poseur, Sage, Shapeshifter, etc. A person with supernatural powers. In Estonian folklore, the gender distribution of witches is quite even. Alongside the witch who does magical damage, there is also the wise witch, i.e. a witch with clairvoyant and healing powers. At the height of the witch trials, in the 16th and 17th centuries, a total of 67 people were executed in Estonia, according to various sources. Unfortunately, witch-hunting has still not disappeared from the world.

Women

Women play a significant role in various stories and legends that surround the Taevaskoja forest. In these stories, women are witches, beautiful virgins, chatty hostesses and artists. During the post-war period, it was the local women who under during the winter, in harsh conditions helped to clear the forest so that a hydroelectric power station could be built and with it an artificial lake would be created.

You

rest as well

You

With you I would have a vacation at the end of the world.