Rübezahl is a legendary figure known as the Lord of the Giant Mountains, a range straddling the border between present-day Czech Republic and Poland. He’s the subject of dozens of fairy tales, legends and myths in German, Czech and Polish folklore and appears as a capricious giant, kind gnome, or shape-shifting spirit who can be both benevolent and wrathful.
But where does the story of the Rübezahl myth come from, why does it straddle international borders, and why is he famous for counting turnips? Let’s take the Rübezahl story to new heights as we delve into the regal realms of the Lord of the Giant Mountains.
The Origins of the Legend
An ancient map of Silesia (Credit: mikroman6 via Getty Images)
The legend of Rübezahl can be traced back to a rich tapestry of oral traditions, medieval folktales, and written narratives that have evolved over the centuries, long before the map of Europe as we know it today had evolved. The stories are deeply rooted in the folklore of the Krkonoše Mountains, known in German as the Riesengebirge or “Giant Mountains”. This region, historically inhabited by Germanic, Slavic, and Czech peoples, explains why the Rübezahl myth features prominently across German, Polish, and Czech traditions. And it’s also worth noting that Rübezahl is known by various names, including Liczyrzepa and Karkonosz in Polish, and Krakonoš in Czech.
One of the earliest known depictions of this Silesian spirit is from a 1561 map of Silesia – a historical region of Central Europe with feet in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic – by cartographer Martin Helwig. A tiny figure nestled at the foot of the Schneekoppe, Sněžka or Śnieżka Mountain in the Giant Mountain range looks devil-like, with a forked tail and horns. It’s known as riebezagel or ruobezagel, made up of two Middle High German words rube, meaning turnip, and zagel, meaning ‘tail.’
Talking of turnips…
What’s in a Name?
As Rübezahl counted the turnips, the princess made her escape (Credit: Denise Taylor via Getty Images)
There are a number of conflicting explanations for the origin of Rübezahl’s name, and there doesn’t appear to be a consensus as to which is true. We mentioned one above, that it came from the Middle High German words riebezagel or ruobezagel, but there’s a more popular version of the story involving Rübezahl himself, a princess, a field of turnips, and a dramatic escape.
The tale goes that Rübezahl, a Polish woodwose – a mythical creature from British and European folklore, from the Old English wude-wāsa, meaning ‘wildman of the woods’ – abducted a turnip-loving Polish princess whom he wanted to marry. The princess got lonely without her court, so Rübezahl recreated her friends out of turnips. Eventually, the turnips (in German, Rübe) began to wilt and the princess asked this Silesian spirit to count (in German, zählen) the remaining turnips in the field. As he was doing what the princess asked, she saw her opportunity to escape. Hence, Rübezahl, or ‘turnip counter.’
However in almost every version of the story, he deems the name Rübezahl to be an insult, and much prefers being called Lord of the Mountain.
What Does the Czech Mountain Spirit Look Like?
Was Rübezahl a wizened old man with a long beard? (Credit: Nic54 via Getty Images)
Like many folkloric stories from the Middle Ages, descriptions vary from region to region, and with each telling and retelling. He’s described variously as a wizened old man with a long beard, as a fearsome giant who can cross the Giant Mountains in a single step, or an elegantly dressed nobleman. Other versions have him dressed as a monk with a long grey robe, or even a kindly old lady. Indeed some have tentatively suggested that Rübezahl may have been an inspiration for Gandalf, from JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, but there’s little in the way of hard evidence to back up this grand claim.
Good, Bad, or Somewhere In Between?
Rübezahl is said to have invented kyselo, a traditional Polish sour soup (Credit: Dar1930 via Getty Images)
When it comes to Rübezahl’s temperament, accounts vary widely. In some tales, he’s a trickster, mischievously leading travellers on confusing paths or playing pranks on those he deemed arrogant. If travellers were nice to him, it was said that he could lead them to his treasure buried deep in the mountains.
Some versions suggest that if he was mocked or dishonoured, he could summon raging storms, thunder and lightning, even on a summer’s day. Silesian miners sometimes honoured the Rübezahl myth, believing he watched over them as they worked, but should they insult him by using his name, the workers feared mine collapses or floods.
In the Czech version of the story, he gives people sourdough bread and is said to have invented a traditional soup called kyselo.
Magical or Malevolent: The Mysterious Mountain Man
Sunrise over the stunning Giant Mountains (Credit: Tomáš Chaloupka via Getty Images)
This mythical mountain spirit is a captivating storybook figure who crosses modern borders and embodies the spirit of the Krkonoše Mountains. At times, he’s a guardian who tests human character, rewarding kindness and punishing disrespect. At others, he’s a shape-shifting trickster who moves from gentle protector to fearsome giant in the blink of an eye. Whether he’s seen as a helpful gnome, a weather-shaping spirit, or a mysterious mountain dweller, the Rübezahl myth has persisted for centuries and continues to inspire many a tall tale even today.
