An Offering To
Minerva
An Offering To Minerva is a
two step multi cache.
In order to reach the first
step in the cache you must first locate Minerva's Altar and there
you will find coordinates to Minerva's Spring which will supply you
with the necessary numbers for you to figure out the coordinates to
Minerva's Grave which is the final cache and contains the log book
to An Offering To
Minerva.
Note:
This cache may be frightening to very small
children.
An
Offering To Minerva
It was midway through the winter in the
year 1410. A village of people living on the Southern
exposure of Pataqua now known as Abbott Mountain near what is
now Shapleigh, Maine had suffered through an unusually cold 5
weeks. The game in the area was totally depleted, the village was
living only on a meager amount of stored crops reduced to
only a few dozen apples and some berries and on a dwindling number
of squirrels and rabbits.
As the aged and young
of the village began to die of malnutrition, the village
tribal chief Algontaka summonsed the help of Minerva, a local
Shaman who resided on a southern ridge of Pataqua looking out over
the Valley of Kaloana. Kaloana was a lush and beautiful valley
situated between Minerva’s Altar and the village of the
Pataqua Tribe.
Upon
hearing of the situation on the slopes below, Minerva went
immediately to her altar which was situated on a ledge high above
The Valley of Kaloana and spent 5 days in the bitter cold fasting
and offering burnt offerings of what little game she was able to
kill to the god Kilanna.
On
the sixth day Minerva brought a single small stone the size of a
pea from her Altar to a spring which bubbles cold and clear with an
unusual water. Chanting these words Woolanda, Kohata, Potak
-Minerva dropped the small stone into the pool of spring
water. Minerva then retrieved a small amount of water in a
gourd, for water retrieved before the ripples have cleared became
very powerful and magical. The gourd of water was then brought to
the village to anoint the remaining tribe members and give them the
needed strength to endure the final weeks of winter.
To
Minerva’s dismay, upon entering the village she found only
the frozen lifeless bodies of the remaining tribe sitting in
a circle around a now extinguished fire pit. Minerva spent
the next ten days burying the bodies of the villagers in piled
stone graves as the ground was too thickly frozen and there was not
enough wood left to build the customary cremation fires. When the
final body had been buried, Minerva gathered enough stones for her
own grave and in a state of grief proceeded to bury herself alive.
Because Minerva drank all of the magical water that she had
collected for the village she still lives, entombed in her rocky
grave on the side of Pataqua, still grieving for the village she
was too late to
save.
Your
Assignment
Minerva has spent over 600 years
in her cold and rocky grave and endured countless centuries
thirsting for just another drop of her magical water. Should you
decide to take on this challenge you will need to accomplish three
tasks.
1. Find the cache located near the altar overlooking the
Valley of Kaloana. Sign the log, record the coordinates to
Minerva’s spring and obtain a
pea sized pebble from the area surrounding Minerva’s Altar.
(Note: Each Geocacher must obtain their own pebble or they will not
be able to safely enter the burial
grounds.)
2.
Navigate to the cache at Minerva’s Spring. Each Geocacher must drop their pea sized pebble
into the water of the spring after first chanting these words
Woolanda, Kohata, Potak and before the ripples have disappeared
obtain a few drops of water to take to Minerva as an offering. The
water ripples must not settle prior to each Geocacher obtaining
their offering. Once each of the water offerings has been
obtained use a four digit number you will find at the spring to
take you to the Village Burial Grounds. To calculate the coordinates for
Minerva's grave add 4257 to the four digit number you find at
Minerva's Spring.
Four Digit Number + 4257 =
ABCD
Minerva's Grave Coordinates
are:
N43
35.AB9
W 070
50.CD3
3. As you reach the burial
grounds please refrain from any loud noises and approach
reverently. Minerva often is sleeping and will react violently if
awoken harshly.
VERY
IMPORTANT
PLEASE, PLEASE,
PLEASE
THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT
DO NOT AND I REPEAT “DO NOT” ENTER THE BURIAL
GROUNDS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WATER OFFERING FOR
MINERVA.
ALSO
DO NOT TOUCH ANY OF THE OTHER
GRAVES - OVER THE CENTURIES SEVERAL FOOL HARDY PEOPLE HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO EXPLORE THE INNER CONTENTS OF THE GRAVES ONLY TO MEET
WITH HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND NEVER TO ASCEND OFF FROM
PATAQUA.
SHE MIGHT BE OLD BUT HER POWERS ARE
GREAT AND HER ANGER IS
FIERCE!!!
Once at
the burial grounds you will need to locate Minerva’s grave.
You will recognize it for it is the largest of all of the graves.
Immediately sprinkle your offering of
the magical water from the spring over the eastern end of the grave
where Minerva’s head is located (Minerva buried herself with
her feet towards the setting sun) and at the same time chant these
words. Matak Li Oolantis Kaloana Minerva. (these words roughly
translate to “I quench your thirst Minerva”.
Note: Listen closely - some people say they have heard Minerva make
a very faint sigh as the water trickles through the rocks to her
lips.
At this
time it will be safe for you to locate the final cache placed
beneath a single stone at the head end of Minerva’s grave.
Hint - look beneath a large flat stone on the top of the grave.
4. After
signing the log, quietly leave the burial grounds with the same
reverence as when you entered and refrain from any loud noises
until you have fully removed yourself from the vicinity of the
graves. At this point feel free to talk and carry on as you would
at any other time while
Geocaching.
NOTE: In
keeping with Geocaching.Com's restrictions on additional logging
requirements, items in
red
are not
required in order to complete this cache and obtain a smiley. They
are are placed solely as a fun
factor.
Note:
Abbott Mountain contains many more great caches and I highly
recommend you pick up a few more while you are up here - there are
a few not too far from An Offering To
Minerva.
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