History Bytes: Temple of Sventovit

Did you know that the temple of Sventovit was a real place at cape Arkona on the German island of Rügen?

In “The Witch of Rhinemark”, the protagonist, Lavender, travels in Raphaelle’s gypsy caravan to the island for a pagan harvest festival at ‘Arcana’. Raphaelle claims partial ancestry from the Rujani tribe of Arcana, and she serves as both a priestess of Sventovit, as well as a soothsayer and seer.

Historically, though, the temple was surrounded by the fortress of Jaromarsburg on the sheer cliffs overlooking the cape. The Rani tribe used the temple to worship Sventovit, the Slavic deity of abundance and war. At its height, Jaromarsburg was a powerful castle, with archeological evidence of a strong military, as well as vibrant mercantilism. Some archeologists have even found evidence of human sacrifice. The temple fortress was destroyed in 1168AD by Danish King Valdemar and Bishop Absalon. Today, Jaromarsburg is closed to the public, and only a portion of the reinforced walls remain.

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