Mythical Reality of Carinthian Dukes' Stones

Abstract

The author discusses the ceremony of the installation of Carantanian dukes from the viewpoint of archaeology and mythology. He ascertains that the Zollfeld Duke's Throne originated in 1335. Prior to it there stood the Dukes' Stone which was later moved to Karnburg. Originally there were four stones in Zollfeld. In Tara in Ireland, four stones were involved in the process of installation as well. The origin of the ceremony is sacred. Its two essential elements are the duel and the marriage to the goddess Sovereignty depicted as a horse, thus ensuring prosperity for all mankind. As a sacred tribal community, Carantania was small. Alongside was a Slavic principality of Liburnia, its centre at Millstattersee. At the end of the 8th century there lived duke Domitian, a patron and a supporter of the clerical communities in Molzbichl and Millstatt, where the Freising Manuscripts originated.