In late July 2024, the Chieftain visited Wotanstein. The Wotanstein, or Wotan’s Stone in English, is one of Germany's most significant megalithic monuments and an important Heathen site, yet it remains mostly unknown. The term "megalith" comes from the ancient Greek words "mega," meaning large, and "lith," meaning stone. It refers to large stones, often unshaped or slightly shaped, that have been specifically positioned for primarily religious purposes. In Central and Northern Europe, megaliths were erected during the Stone Age and early Bronze Age.
What makes the Wotanstein in the southwest corner of the village of Maden, part of Gudensburg, in Hessen, Germany unique is that it is made from quartzite, a material not native to the area. It was transported from quartz quarries at least 25 kilometers away or further. Research indicates that the Wotanstein was placed in Maden, a stronghold of the Chatti, a Germanic tribe, in the third century BCE based on similar archaeological finds.
The Wotanstein’s early ritual and cult use is evident, as it is located in an area rich with other Heathen sites, from Fritzlar to Eresburg. These include Donareiche (Thor’s Oak), the Irminsul, and the Chatti Tribe Thing in Maden Heide. This stone would have been present during the time the Chatti worshipped Wotan (Odin), their main god, and Donner (Thor), dating back to the first century CE or perhaps earlier, with each new discovery revealing an even deeper Heathen heritage.
By 1407 CE, the stone was known as the "long stone of Madin." It remained in place during the Seven Years' War (1758-1763) when it was temporarily unearthed by troops searching for gold or silver. While no precious metals were found, records indicate that human bones were discovered beneath the Wotanstein. The stone stands approximately 6.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide and is embedded as deeply into the earth as it is tall, with a thickness of around 1.8 feet.
In that period, local Christians wanting nothing to do with the Wotanstein’s heathen past started inventing stories such as: the devil wanted to smash the first Christian church of Boniface in Fritzlar, which was built from the wood of the Donareiche (Thor’s Oak), with a stone from the Landsberg – the Maden Stein area 265 meters high close to there are the remains of a Chatti Thing (to be covered separately). Boniface = real name Winfried, was the English Benedictine Monk who was responsible for Christianizing the area around Fritzlar and protected by Frankish troops for cutting down the Donareich (Thor’s Oak). He was eventually killed by what the Church described as robbers (perhaps Heathen resistance) in Frisia in 754 CE and then the Church made him a “Saint.” The Christians did not want people to use the Old Heathen Thing (Meeting Place and Court) near Maden – so they claimed the Devil lived in that area. However, when the “devil” threw the stone at the church it bounced off the shield held up by Archangel Michael and ended up in the place where it stands today. They also say some hogwash that the small holes on the side of the stone were “the devil’s handprints.” And yes, unfortunately the “Believers” believed this. The Brother's Grimm may have mentioned the Wotan Stone as being a stone in Gudensberg with the Devil's hoof mark on it. Indeed the Brother's opined that Gudensberg means Wuodensberg (or Odin's Mountain in English). There is a nearby Odenberg which is 1,250 feet tall. Other etymologists have agreed that the name is influenced by the Chatti worship of Wotan. In the 10th century, there was a Hof Wodensberg, a farm in Gudensberg. There are fairytale and musical events in Gudensberg and the symbol used for them is the Raven - also the mascot of the town - not by chance.
It seems they still do not want you to know about the Wotanstein or the Chatti Thing and only a few local maps of wandering paths show their locations.
The Wotanstein is surrounded by beautiful old oak trees – sacred to Thor and our faith - and set in a nice garden with a bench. Wuotan is the Old High German for Odin derived from the proto-Germanic Wōðanaz This is thanks to the locals who take care of the place. There all alone the Chieftain called on the Old Gods to honor them. All the nonsense that the Church said about the place melts away and the truth comes through. Our Gods were worshipped here and as of yesterday they still are.
Hail the Old Gods!
Photo by the Chieftain of Odin’s Warrior Tribe. Our Tribe seeks to honor our heathen past and continue the journey. We are heathen warriors who also seek wisdom and we are involved in academic and research work on our faith. We are actually looking into creating a list of heathen sites worth visiting – our version of a pilgrimage.
The books may lead you to the Gods, but the Gods are not in the books. The Gods are out there in nature, places we gather, and their presence remains in very special historical places where our ancestors worshipped them. They are patient and remain waiting for our return.
Vertu með ok byrjaðu ferðalagið!
Join us and start the journey!
Sources:
Johannes Groht: Menhire in Deutschland. Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt, Halle (Saale) 2013, ISBN 978-3-943904-18-5, S. 152.
Irene Kappel: Steinkammergräber und Menhire in Nordhessen. Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Kassel 1978, (Führer zur nordhessischen Ur- und Frühgeschichte 5), S. 61–63.
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