Opening the stacks
Opening the stacks
The blending of physical locations with mythological narratives, such as Orpheus's descent into the Underworld, to deepen the symbolic meaning of the landscape.
3 chapters across 1 book
In this chapter, the narrator journeys through the abandoned borderlands of the Rhodope Mountains, encountering a ghost village and experiencing a profound, almost supernatural terror linked to the region's violent and mysterious history. The narrative intertwines myth, history, and personal experience to explore the intangible and haunting nature of borders, both physical and metaphysical, culminating in an invitation to cross the river into an unknown realm.
The chapter recounts a local legend from Kaynarca, a village known for its springs, involving a shepherd's crook that traveled via the Danube River and contained hidden gold coins. It reflects on the enduring nature of the springs, which have been revered since ancient times by figures such as Persian King Darius and Sultan Mehmet, symbolizing continuity and the mysterious connection between past and present.
The chapter explores the concept of the 'eternal return' as described by Mircea Eliade, connecting it to the author's personal experience on the Black Sea coast near the Turkish-Bulgarian border. It reflects on the liminal nature of this borderland, where history, myth, and geography converge, evoking a sense of timelessness and continuity with the past. The narrative also touches on local cultural practices, geopolitical tensions, and the mystical atmosphere of the region's natural and historical landscape.