#king laurin

[illustratus]

Dwarf King Laurin at the Court of Dietrich von Bern

by Ferdinand Leeke

[asphodelsforadora-blog]

"The shades of night still lurked among the rocks like giants in disguise, but the peaks of the glacier were already aglow with the light of morning."

[hauntedgardenbook]

The German legend of King Laurin and his Rose Garden is where the majestic Rosengarten range of the Dolomite region got its name. Folk tales told of Laurin, the king of the dwarves who mined the mountains of the South Tyrol for precious gems and ores. Laurin's "special pride and joy was the great garden located in front of the entranceway to his underground crystal castle. Countless wonderful roses blossomed in this garden, whose scent was enchanting. But woe unto those who might attempt to pluck even only one of these roses! Laurin would order that his left hand and right foot be chopped off! He exacted the same punishment from anyone who tore the silken thread which surrounded his entire rose garden instead of a fence." -- Wikipedia Illustration: Detail of hiking map of the Dolomites; Rosengarten at top center.