La tarasque -- Tarascon, France
N 43° 48.354 E 004° 39.281
31T E 633095 N 4851645
The statue is located near the Castle of Tarascon, next to the Rhône River - Canal of Beaucaire.
Waymark Code: WMZ2JT
Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Date Posted: 08/31/2018
Views: 14
[EN]
The Tarasque is an animal of Provençal folklore. It was supposed to haunt the swamps near Tarascon, destroying everything in its path and terrorizing the population. This monster is a kind of dragon with six short legs like those of a bear, a torso like that of an ox, covered with a turtle shell and with a scaly tail ending in a scorpion sting. His head has been described as that of a horse-eared lion with an old man's face.
According to tradition, Martha of Bethany, who came from Judea, landed at Tarascon where an beast was destroying the river traffic. She tamed the beast only for it to be butchered by the townspeople.
[FR]
La Tarasque est un animal du folklore provençal. Elle était censée hanter les marécages près de Tarascon, détruisant tout sur son passage et terrorisant la population. Ce monstre est une sorte de dragon à six pattes courtes comme celles d'un ours, un torse comme celui d'un bœuf, recouvert d'une carapace de tortue et muni d'une queue écailleuse se terminant par un dard de scorpion. Sa tête a été décrite comme étant celle d'un lion aux oreilles de cheval avec un visage de vieil homme.
Selon la tradition, Marthe de Béthanie, venue de Judée, arriva à Tarascon où sévissait alors un terrible monstre amphibien. La sainte dompta courageusement et miraculeusement la bête.
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