The Cult and Heroism on Arkona: A Historical Portrait from Rügen’s Glorious Past

The Cult and Heroism on Arkona: A Historical Portrait from Rügen’s Glorious Past

Step into the tumultuous world of 12th-century Rügen (Ruyan), where the Baltic Sea crashes against towering cliffs and the pagan gods of Arkona’s great temple command the devotion of a people on the brink of change. In this gripping English translation of Wilhelm Alwert’s 1935 German masterpiece, "Götzenkult und Heldentum zu Arkona", a vivid clash of faiths and cultures unfolds. Rano Witte, born amid a raging storm, grows into the fearless “King of the Sea,” leading daring raids across the Baltic in defense of his homeland and the god Świętowit. But as Christian forces, led by Denmark’s King Valdemar, prepare to destroy Arkona’s pagan stronghold, Rano faces impossible choices. Battling external enemies and inner conflicts, he must rally his people for a final stand. This sweeping epic is a poignant tale of heroism, love, and the fight to preserve identity in the face of inevitable change