Starkotters Grav

Monuments & Landmarks

Vattjom 120, Matfors, Sverige

Here in Vattjom, the saying goes, old lived a giant called Starkotter. He lived by fish, which he with his bare hands picked up from Ljungan, standing with a foot on each beach. In Balbo, Borgsjö, he had a good friend in Bal. He lived in hunting. When Starkotter got tired of the fish diet, he stepped up on Klevberget on the south side of the river called to Bal and asked for some meat. He then took a moose under each arm and went down to Vattjom. When Bal got tired of eating meat, he cried out to Starkotter and asked for fish, and then he took a thin salmon under each arm and went up to Balbo. Starkotter was killed by the thunder. His grave still appears today. It is a considerable pile of stones. Some of these are larger and are said to excel the head, arm, legs, shoulders, etc. Nearby is a valley called the Hero Road. It is said to have been suppressed when he went down to the river to fish. In the vicinity of "Starkotter's grave" is a pitch of descent, which was believed to be the grave of the wife. My parents told me that in the past, they were digging for "the greats" in this pile. They were frightened by strange sights. The village seemed to burn, angry thieves came, etc. If Starkotter's wife is told that she once picked up a farmer with a horse and ploughed in her disguise and carried them home, but the old man commanded her to carry this back in his place.