Skyforger - Rāmava (Dzīvā skatuve Ogrē, 2022)

Skyforger viesojās kanāla ReTV muzikālajā programmā “Dzīvā skatuve Ogrē“, vol. S2E8. RĀMAVA is taken from album ’Senprūsija’ (Old Prussia) - live in Ogre city, 7th January 2022 Raidījums tapis sadarbībā ar Ogres novada Kultūras centru un Ogres novada pašvaldību. Raidījuma vadītāji - Elīna Krastiņa un Andris Krauja. Idejas autors - Harijs Zariņš. ▶ FOLLOW ▶ Tour dates 2023 29 SEP 2023 - Helsinki, Bar Loose - Finland 30 SEP 2023 - Turku, Apollo - Finland ▶ STORY Some thousand years ago, the Old Prussians were the largest of the Baltic tribes, inhabiting the southern coast of the Baltic Sea from River Vistula to River Neman (Memel). The Old Prussians, just as their language, are now extinct, and nothing much is left of their past. However, many manuscripts and artefacts remain, along with tales and legends that tell us about these people, their love for their land, battle skills and their fierce and persistent resistance against the Christian Europe all through the 13th century. We chose to dedicate this album to the legacy of the Old Prussians, as for us, the two remaining Baltic nations – Latvians and Lithuanians, it is very important that this part of our common history is not forgotten and remains known for the future generations. In the land of Nadrovia, there was the most sacred place for Old Prussians – the Romuve grove (also known as Rickoyot). It was only here where they were allowed to worship and bring sacrifice to their three main deities – Perkuns, Peckols (or Patollo) and Potrimpus. These were three supernatural powers ruling the world and manifesting themselves in every Prussian’s daily life. Legends tell that in the very heart of Romuve stood an ancient oak and in its hollow trunk stood idols of all three Prussian gods. Perkuns was depicted as a middle aged man with angry red face and bearing a crown of fire – fit for the god of war and justice. Peckols looked like an old man with long grey beard and white shroud wrapped around his head. He was the god of Underworld and the dead. Potrimpus bore the likeness of a young man wearing a crown of ears of grain; he was the god of birth and fertility. The highest of Prussian priests Krive Krivaito along with Vaidelots (priests) resided in the Romuva grove on a permanent basis. The Krive communicated and brought sacrifice to gods, performed rituals and summoned the Prussians to important gatherings. Some sources indicate that the last known Krive Krivaito lived in the 14th century in Lithuania – his name was Lizdeika and he served as an advisor to the Grand Duke Gediminas. There are historians who believe that all this is mostly a fancy legend made up by German chroniclers to make their writings more captivating. However, it may not be entirely so, as across the Baltics, there is still a lot of place names containing “alkas” or “elks”, a reference to a sacred pagan place. Also, in Latvia in particular, there is a considerable number of places containing the affix “Krīv-“ and “Rām-“, and, of course, many more references to Perkuns, the pagan deity well known across the whole Baltic region. ▶ SKYFORGER - RĀMAVA / ROMUVE (LYRICS) Ukadebbaisis Perkunai Deiwe Ukadebbaisis nusan Deiwe Sen swaise spartin, sen swaise warrin Sendais mans wissans, spartinais wissans The first one is Perkuns, Thunderer of the Sky Then there is Potrimpus, the one who gives blessings to the earth The third one is old Peckols, the ruler of the Underworld Into his realm the deceased find their way Anzanas spartin, anzanas warrin Sendais mans wissans, spartinais wissans Daily the everlasting fire are kept burning there by the priests And priestesses come there in midsummer to make crowns from the oak leafs And the one, who can talk with the gods and knows their will The Krive Krivaito himself lives in that sacred grove of Romuve From ancient times the century old oak grows there Three idols of gods sit by that oak, mute and noble One has a burning crown Another is a strong young lad The third has a long beard And a shroud covers his head Ukadebbaisis Perkunai Deiwe Ukadebbaisis nusan Deiwe The first one is Perkuns, Thunderer of the Sky Then there is Potrimpus, the one who gives blessings to the earth The third one is old Peckols, the ruler of the Underworld Into his realm the deceased find their way… #Skyforger #livestream #Latvia