As you may know, behind Aeternum is a small business based in Brittany (specifically in the south of Finistère). It is well known that this region lives to the rhythm of legends, myths, and magical practices, some more or less known (Brocéliande, Merlin, the Fairy Viviane, the Alignments, and many others). Thus, to highlight our beautiful region, we will regularly publish lesser-known legends from Breton history.
This week, we head to the tip of Finistère, in the Plouarzel area, to discover the legend, or rather the legends, of the Menhir of Kerloas. Dated over 4000 years old, it stands no less than 10 meters tall, making it a cherished and vibrant place, as well as the tallest menhir in the world.
Photo credit: Iroise Brittany Tourist Office
The Treasure of the Menhir of Kerloas
The legend says that at the first stroke of midnight, when the world celebrated Christmas (or Yule), the menhirs came to life. Silently, without a sound, they would move, leaving their immovable positions to head toward the ocean. It was rare to witness such a spectacle because despite their imposing weight, they moved discreetly.
Every Christmas, the menhirs would head to the sea, following a secret path known only to them. Their destination was a hidden beach, where they drank from the ocean waters to renew their strength that keeps them alive year after year. But this magical procession revealed a fabulous treasure, buried in place of the menhir.
This treasure, according to the elders, was an accumulation of priceless riches: gold coins, sparkling jewelry, ancient artifacts, and even objects endowed with magical powers. But there was a condition for anyone attempting to seize it: they had to act before the twelfth stroke of midnight.
Thus, every year, a few brave or desperate souls ventured out to try to discover this treasure. Armed with shovels and lanterns, they eagerly awaited the first stroke of midnight. At that precise moment, the menhirs would start moving, and the treasure was revealed.
However, the quest was perilous. Enchanted by the gleam of the riches, many forgot to watch the passage of time. Those who failed to leave the beach before the twelfth stroke of midnight suffered a grim fate: the menhir, returning to its place, mercilessly crushed everything in its path, leaving no chance to the reckless who lingered.
The villagers said that these unfortunate souls were doomed to wander eternally as spirits, haunting the menhir in search of redemption. Their whispers were carried by the wind, warning future treasure seekers of the dangers that awaited them.
Kerloas the Hunchback
The menhir of Kerloas is also known as "the Hunchback" or "An Tort." This nickname comes from its two humps, located on either side of its surface. These protrusions, each about 30cm, were at the center of an ancient fertility rite, perpetuated for centuries.
Photo credit: Madame Ordinaire
The elders said these humps had powers capable of influencing the destiny of newlywed couples. Tradition held that to ensure a prosperous and harmonious offspring, the young spouses would go to the menhir on the night of their wedding. There, in the moonlight, they performed a secret ritual.
The newlyweds would undress completely, leaving their clothes at the foot of the menhir. Then, they would take their place on each side of the sacred stone. The woman, standing on the left, pressed her bare belly against the first hump, while the man, on the right, did the same with the other hump. In this gesture, they sought to absorb the fertility and power forces that the menhir offered them.
The man, rubbing against the right hump, was assured of fathering a male offspring, guaranteeing the continuity of his name and lineage. The woman, on her side, by rubbing against the left hump, obtained the promise of dominating her husband, ruling her household according to her wishes, and ensuring domestic harmony.
And indeed, upon close observation, the menhir’s surface is particularly smooth at waist level...
That’s all for this week; see you next week to discover a new Breton legend!
[bloctwist]
