Where did amber come from - the legend of beautiful Jurata

This happened during the times when a trade route called the “Amber Road” passed through Polish land. Amber, referred to as 'jantar' back then, was more valuable than gold! Fishermen eagerly collected pieces of this golden stone that the sea bed threw out. These pieces saved them from hunger when their nets were empty. People wondered where these pieces came from on the sandy beach... And so, this legend was born:

Legend of Jurata's Palace

At the bottom of the Baltic Sea, around the area of today's Hel Peninsula, the queen of the Baltic - the beautiful and kind goddess Jurata, had her golden palace. She knew about the hard work of the fishermen and their honest lives. She calmed the waves when she saw fishing boats on the sea, and ordered the winds not to tangle the thrown nets. A beautiful fishing song was created in her admiration. Once, she heard a young fisherman singing it, and fell in love with him, enchanted by his melodious voice. Since then, she looked for him on the shore every day, and once even dared to kiss him. The love of the lovers angered the god of Seas and Earth, the mighty Perkun. He struck Jurata's golden underwater palace with lightning, and it shattered into small pieces. The sea waters, agitated by Perkun's fury, occasionally throw golden fragments onto the shore - these are pieces of Jurata's palace.

Amber - how was it formed and why do some pieces contain insects? Read How was amber formed?

Legend of Jurata's Palace - printable coloring page for kids