In Europe, there are legends about mysterious women who built stone structures - dolmens and cromlechs. Their creators gave people fertility and abundance and taught agriculture and brewing. All these women asked in return was a little milk.
In other myths, they were described as snakes, guarded by bulls, they could curse people and absorb the energy of the sun. They were also represented in the form of beautiful half-women, half-snakes or half-women, half-bulls, they guarded dolmens, knew how to communicate with the dead, weaved the sun's rays and were even considered the creators of the world.
Archaeologist Henna Lindström from the University of Helsinki analyzed folklore and legends about the supernatural creators and guardians of Portuguese dolmens in her master's work in 2014. Lindström's work includes the myths of European countries and the legends of the Moura - this is how the dolmen builders were called in Portugal.
Casa da Moura ("House of Moura"), dolmen in Portugal
Photo: João Carvalho / Wikimedia Commons
Radiocarbon analysis indicates that Europeans began building megalithic burial grounds between 4800 and 3800 BC. This corresponds to the Neolithic era. Menhirs, the first megaliths, were vertically set stones. Later, people began to make cromlechs - circular compositions of stones. Thousands of megaliths have been established in the Iberia region. Portugal was one of the first European regions to start building megaliths in 4800 BC.
About the legendary megalith builders Lindström writes: “According to legends, these women possessed supernatural powers. They enjoyed eternal life, eternal youth, extraordinary wisdom. They passed on their skills to people. They taught people how to weave, spin, cook cheese, brew beer, plow, gave people sheep, pigs and cows."
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The very name "Moura" indicates a possible connection with other European goddesses, in particular the ancient Greek moira, the goddesses of fate. The Moiraes knew the fate of every person, and even Zeus had to report to them.
Portuguese moors lived on Earth even before humans appeared. When humans arose, the moors acted as mentors, teaching people agriculture, sailing, and iron processing.
The stone burial grounds in Fornos de Algodres, Portugal, are believed to be the place where the Mouras first kneaded bread dough.
Photo: João Sousa / Wikimedia Commons
The Mouras “came to Earth during the creation of the world. They created hills, valleys, rivers, built dolmens, menhirs and created rock paintings. They gave birth to children who may have been the ancestors of the peoples where these legends arose, writes Lindström. - The art and symbolism of Portuguese dolmens, their orientation towards sunrise or full moon, indicates that their builders could believe in rebirth. Ancient art taught people, both living and dead or unborn, played the role of a guide between the world of the living and the dead.
Megaliths were used in burial sites, but apparently this was not their only function. It is possible that this was not even their main function. Most likely, they played the same role as the churches in the era of Christianity - they were spiritual centers. People gathered around them to celebrate holidays or events, to make decisions that are important for the life of the entire community."
Subsequently, Christian priests banned annual celebrations around the dolmens. The church also destroyed some dolmens and declared others to be Christian shrines. Nevertheless, the legend of the Mouras has survived to this day.