The
Celts
called the Idarwald mountain range "Id-ar", which basically means "forested heights
above the country". This name seems quite appropriate for the completely forested
knoll of
Idarkopf
(746 m) and for the highest point "An den zwei Steinen" (766 m). The Idarkopf,
which is covered with a whole string of archaeological finds, is also
said to be the "sacred mountain" of the Celtic tribe of Treverians, who were
resident here during the Latène Age (500-20 BC). A notable find in the
neighboring forested area are the remains of pre-Christian temples, one of
which is a Sirona sanctuary, where a well preserved statue of the Celtic goddess
Sirona has been found. Sirona was regarded as the goddess of healing springs
and of the heavenly stars and was also known by the name Dirona (= star). The area
around Idarkopf was most certainly already settled in pre-Celtic times, as evidenced
by the nearby Menhirs (upright standing stones) from the Stone Age and Bronze
Age. Among these Menhirs is the prehistoric "King's Stone" at the western
end of Rhaunen, directly on the road to
Stipshausen.
Photo: The prehistoric menhir "Königstein" (King's Stone) is located at
the western end of Rhaunen directly on the road to Stipshausen.