Adder stone

, Germany, in the Baltic Sea An adder stone is a type of stone, usually glassy, with a naturally occurring hole through it. Such stones, which usually consist of flint, have been discovered by archaeologists in both Britain and Egypt. Commonly, they are found in Northern Germany at the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. In Britain they are also called hag stones, witch stones, fairy stones, serpent's eggs, snake's eggs, or in Wales, milpreve in Cornwall, adderstanes in the south of Scotland and ("Druids' glass" in Scottish Gaelic) in the north. In Germany they are called ("chicken gods"). Various traditions exist as to the origins of adder stones. One holds that the stones are the hardened saliva of large numbers of serpents massing together, the perforations being caused by their tongues. There are other claims that an adder stone comes from the head of a serpent or is made by the sting of an adder. The more modern and perhaps easier to attain artefact would be any rock with a hole bored through the middle by water. Stones shaped by human intervention (i.e., direction of water or placement of the stone) are not considered adder stones which are formed naturally.

, Germany, in the Baltic Sea]] An adder stone is a type of stone, usually glassy, with a naturally occurring hole through it. Such stones, which usually consist of flint, have been discovered by archaeologists in both Britain and Egypt. Commonly, they are found in Northern Germany at the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. In Britain they are also called hag stones, witch stones, fairy stones, serpent's eggs, snake's eggs, or in Wales, milpreve in Cornwall, adderstanes in the south of Scotland and ("Druids' glass" in Scottish Gaelic) in the north. In Germany they are called ("chicken gods"). Various traditions exist as to the origins of adder stones. One holds that the stones are the hardened saliva of large numbers of serpents massing together, the perforations being caused by their tongues. There are other claims that an adder stone comes from the head of a serpent or is made by the sting of an adder. The more modern and perhaps easier to attain artefact would be any rock with a hole bored through the middle by water. Stones shaped by human intervention (i.e., direction of water or placement of the stone) are not considered adder stones which are formed naturally. ==In Pliny's Natural History== According to Ancient Roman natural philosopher Pliny’s Natural History, book XXIX, adder stone was held in high esteem amongst the Druids. Pliny described rituals the druids allegedly conducted to acquire the stone, and the magical properties they ascribed to it. He wrote: ==In Welsh mythology== The Glain Neidr or Maen Magi of Welsh folklore is also closely connected to Druidism. The Glain Neidr of Wales are believed to be created by a congress of snakes, normally occurring in spring, but most auspicious on May Eve. Although not named as Glain Neidr, magic stones with the properties of adder stones appear frequently in Welsh mythology and folklore. The Mabinogion, translated into English in the mid-nineteenth century by Lady Charlotte Guest, mentions such stones on two occasions. In the story of Peredur son of Efrawg (Percival of the Arthurian cycle), in a departure from Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Peredur is given a magical stone that allows him to see and kill an invisible creature called the Addanc. In another tale, Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain (Ywain of Arthurian legend), the hero Owain mab Urien is trapped in the gatehouse of a castle. He is given a stone by a maiden, which turns Owain invisible, allowing him to escape capture. ==See also== Creirwy Druid List of mythological objects Omarolluk and Pholad borings, other rocks with curious but naturally created holes. Toadstone Paramoudra ghostvillage.com: Dictionary of Superstitions A-Z Witchcraft & second sight in the Highlands & islands of Scotland. John Gregorson Campbell, pg 84. (Gloine)

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