Knightly Treasure Hunters
35 images Created 13 Jun 2012
Glücksritter
In Georgia, a whole village is living off coins thrown out of car windows by superstitious motorists. This rather extraordinary source of income is owned to a local farmwoman. Yet, a new highway is threatening this good fortune.
The village of Igoeti is located right next to the heavily trafficked transit route connecting Turkey with the Caspian Sea. Travelers hold the village dear because of its small chapel at the edge of town dedicated to Saint Georg - dragon slayer and knight.
It’s said, a donation in form of a small amount of money to the patron saint ensures a safe journey. Since the chapel of Saint Georg is located directly in a turn of the E60, motorists -at full speed- just throw their small change on the asphalt. On the roadside, armed with long wooden sticks, the knights of the coin readily await their little treasures. Mounted to the end of their sticks magnets are fixed with the help of wires. As soon as someone has thrown some coins, they rush to capture their share.
However, until 2008 the villagers didn’t see anything of their proverbial bonanza. Under soviet rule the state collected the coins, after its demise “The Black Guys” – a paramilitary group – claimed their right to the profit, leading to violent clashes between them.
Nino Chaduneli, a 64 year old widowed farmwoman was upset by the fact, that the Help of her knightly saint wasn’t received by those who needed it most. Confidently she went to the court and fought for the right of the villagers to collect the money. For the first time in 60 years, the townspeople benefited from the motorists’ veneration to their saint. Consequently, the community elaborated a plan, regulating the collecting times for all the village’s families. On good days up to 200 Gel were lying on the road, corresponding to a local teacher’s monthly salary.
Few weeks after these pictures were taken the new highway was ready. After only three years, the villager’s source of income has stopped flowing.
GERMAN:
Glücksritter
Ein ganzes Dorf in Georgien lebt von den Münzen, die abergläubische Autofahrer aus dem Fenster werfen. Zu verdanken hat das Dorf diese ungewöhnliche Einnahmequelle einer Bäuerin. Doch nun bedroht eine neue Autobahn dieses kurze Glück.
Igoeti liegt an der stark befahreneren Transitroute zwischen der Türkei und dem Kaspischen Meer. Unter den Reisenden ist das Dorf wegen der Kapelle am Ortsrand bekannt. Geweiht ist sie dem Heiligen Georg, dem Drachentöter und Ritter.
Eine Geldspende soll für eine sichere Reise sorgen. Da die Kapelle direkt an der E60 liegt, werfen die Autofahrer ihr Geld bei voller Fahrt auf den Asphalt. Am Straßenrand warten Münzritter mit Magneten an langen Holzstöcken auf ihr Glück.
Bis 2008 sahen die Dorfbewohner von dem Geldregen nichts. Nino Chaduneli, eine 64-jährige verwitwete Bäuerin störte sich daran, dass diejenigen, die diese Hilfe am nötigsten hatten, leer ausgingen und zog vor Gericht.
In Georgia, a whole village is living off coins thrown out of car windows by superstitious motorists. This rather extraordinary source of income is owned to a local farmwoman. Yet, a new highway is threatening this good fortune.
The village of Igoeti is located right next to the heavily trafficked transit route connecting Turkey with the Caspian Sea. Travelers hold the village dear because of its small chapel at the edge of town dedicated to Saint Georg - dragon slayer and knight.
It’s said, a donation in form of a small amount of money to the patron saint ensures a safe journey. Since the chapel of Saint Georg is located directly in a turn of the E60, motorists -at full speed- just throw their small change on the asphalt. On the roadside, armed with long wooden sticks, the knights of the coin readily await their little treasures. Mounted to the end of their sticks magnets are fixed with the help of wires. As soon as someone has thrown some coins, they rush to capture their share.
However, until 2008 the villagers didn’t see anything of their proverbial bonanza. Under soviet rule the state collected the coins, after its demise “The Black Guys” – a paramilitary group – claimed their right to the profit, leading to violent clashes between them.
Nino Chaduneli, a 64 year old widowed farmwoman was upset by the fact, that the Help of her knightly saint wasn’t received by those who needed it most. Confidently she went to the court and fought for the right of the villagers to collect the money. For the first time in 60 years, the townspeople benefited from the motorists’ veneration to their saint. Consequently, the community elaborated a plan, regulating the collecting times for all the village’s families. On good days up to 200 Gel were lying on the road, corresponding to a local teacher’s monthly salary.
Few weeks after these pictures were taken the new highway was ready. After only three years, the villager’s source of income has stopped flowing.
GERMAN:
Glücksritter
Ein ganzes Dorf in Georgien lebt von den Münzen, die abergläubische Autofahrer aus dem Fenster werfen. Zu verdanken hat das Dorf diese ungewöhnliche Einnahmequelle einer Bäuerin. Doch nun bedroht eine neue Autobahn dieses kurze Glück.
Igoeti liegt an der stark befahreneren Transitroute zwischen der Türkei und dem Kaspischen Meer. Unter den Reisenden ist das Dorf wegen der Kapelle am Ortsrand bekannt. Geweiht ist sie dem Heiligen Georg, dem Drachentöter und Ritter.
Eine Geldspende soll für eine sichere Reise sorgen. Da die Kapelle direkt an der E60 liegt, werfen die Autofahrer ihr Geld bei voller Fahrt auf den Asphalt. Am Straßenrand warten Münzritter mit Magneten an langen Holzstöcken auf ihr Glück.
Bis 2008 sahen die Dorfbewohner von dem Geldregen nichts. Nino Chaduneli, eine 64-jährige verwitwete Bäuerin störte sich daran, dass diejenigen, die diese Hilfe am nötigsten hatten, leer ausgingen und zog vor Gericht.
