[Stroggy]

hmmm.

Well here in Antwerp there are a few myths... like how the city got its name.

The story goes that somewhere in Brabant (name of a geographical area in Belgium) there stood a castle next to the river Scheldt (river Scheldt is the river that runs through Antwerp and also the reason Antwerp became such a rich city near the end of the Dark Ages... until the Spanish general Sfernize (sp?) closed it)
In that castle lived a huge giant named Druon Antigoon.

This nasty giant demanded a toll from every passing ship. if the captain could not pay this outrageous toll the giant would cut the captain's hand off and throw it into the river.

One day a roman soldier named Silvius Brabo passed. The giant demanded Brabo pay the toll. Brabo refused and fought the giant.
Brabo eventually cut the giant's hand off and threw it into the river.

and since in dutch hand is 'hand' and throw is 'werpen' the name of the city became handwerpen... or in old Belgiant dialect: antwerpen

While this is obvious total bullshit, statues of Brabo and Antigone can be found everywhere in the city.
There is even a huge statue showing the slain Antigone and Brabo holding the Giant's hand up in the air.
During the summer water comes out of Antigone's arm and disembodied hand to simulate the blood.



Another myth is much more famous since it rivals literary works like Dante's: Divina Comedia, according to a lot of experts.

I'm talking about the story of Reinaerdt the Fox (or perhaps stories)
while this is, in many ways, a fable set in the region of the province of Antwerp. It also gives a very panoramic view of the medieval society. It shows corrupt and powerhungry nobility and clergy, and only a criminal like Reinaerdt can outwit them.

The (real) story, while very entertaining, is not suitable for children (these days the story is relayed to children in a much more toned-down version. it has been 'disneyed' :angry: )

But really it does contain quite a few revolting, yet amusing, scenes.