R. Duwe and R. Kunbina, copper, brass, sandstone, wood, 1989.
Erected on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Concordia insurance company founded in Hoya. Creative realization of the legend about the dwarves in the castle at Hoya.
The legend of the dwarves at Hoya
One night, a little man appeared at the Count of Hoya. The count was frightened, but the little man said that the count should not be afraid and should listen to his request calmly. The little man continued: "The next night, my companions and I would like to have a party in your castle. No one shall know about it but you alone. No one in the castle will be harmed, and we dwarves will always be grateful to you and your family." The count, who was well aware that the dwarves had to be on good terms, agreed. So the next night, many dwarves came over the bridge to the castle, roasted and baked in the kitchen and danced and celebrated in the hall.
The next morning, the little man visited the count again and thanked him warmly. Then he presented the count with his gifts, namely a sword, a salamander sheet and a ring with a red stone with a lion carved into it. The little man spoke these words: "You shall keep the golden ring, the salamander sheet and the sword safe, and so shall your descendants, for as long as these three remain together, the county will prosper. But if one of them is lost, misfortune and discord will befall the count's house." For many years, the counts of Hoya kept the dwarf's gifts with care and treasured them. But when a Count of Hoya came to die, the red lion in the ring would turn pale shortly beforehand.
Back when Count Jobst and his brothers ruled the county together, the sword and salamander sheet were lost. The brothers became divided and there was war and bloodshed in the county. The last Count of Hoya was buried with the ring of the dwarves. Some also believe that the county flag has the black and yellow of the salamander sheet. The former count's castle still stands today on the eastern side of the Weser. (www.grafschaft-hoya.de)
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