Manole the Master: The myth of sacrifice for creation
…She was no longer seen.
You could hear her,
from the wall as she said:
“Manole, Manole,
Master Manole!
The evil wall is squeezing me,
My baby is breaking!..
At the beginning of the 16th century, Neagoe Basarab, the Voivode of Wallachia, wished to build the most impressive monastery in his country. The renowned Meșterul Manole (Manole the Master) was appointed and his team for this task. Known as a great architect of his era, Manole is thought to be of Armenian origin, which explains certain elements of the monastery’s Armenian and Georgian architectural features. The Voivode would have met the Master in Istanbul.
…The wall lifts up.
But whatever was done,
At night would fall!
The next day again,
The third day again,
The fourth day again,
Work in vain!..
Their efforts, however, proved futile as the walls of the monastery they constructed during the day would crumble by night. Frustrated, the Voivode threatened to execute the Master and his team. In a dream, Manole received a divine revelation: the solution lay in a sacrificial act—embedding the first woman who would bring them food into the monastery walls. Manole shared this vision with his fellow workers, and they agreed that the first wife, who would arrive the next day with lunch for her husband, would be the one to be entombed within the walls.
…First to appear,
It is her we must sacrifice,
Let's wall her up!..
The next day, Manole gazed over the hills and sadly saw his pregnant wife, Ana, approaching from afar. Desperate to prevent her from reaching the monastery, he prayed fervently to God, asking for rain and storms to halt her journey.
…The Lord is forgiving,
His prayer is answered,
And a wind blew.
A wind on the ground,
It was a wind that was blowing,
The fir trees were bare,
The mountains were overthrown.
But Ana
Nor did she turn!..
Despite the storm, Ana's love for Manole prevailed, and she reached her husband. True to his promise, Manole began constructing the monastery walls around her body. Upon completing the monastery, Manole faced jealousy and betrayal. The envious Voivode, unwilling to accept that another masterpiece might rival his, commanded that Manole be stranded on the roof. Like Icarus, who dared to fly too close to the sun, Manole believed he could defy fate. He fashioned wings from shingles and leapt from the roof, tragically perishing in the attempt.
…The poor man was falling dead!
And where he fell
What was going on?
A smooth fountain,
With little water,
With salt water,
With wet tears!..
From where Manole fell, a spring erupted, now known as Manole's Fountain, a testament that his spirit endures. Ana's entombment is commemorated on the south wall. The monastery, named Curtea de Argeș after the ancient Wallachian capital, stands as a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture adorned with Moorish arabesques. Its distinctive twin cupolas are renowned globally, showcasing its historical and architectural significance.
In the style of a folk ballad, this enduring myth underscores the belief that nothing can be built or endured without sacrifice at its core. Along with Romania, Moldova shares a rich traditional folk culture, where ballads play a pivotal role in its formation. These tales vary in their versions, passed down anonymously through oral tradition across generations. The first compilation of folk works, titled Romanian Folk Poems, was published in 1852 by Vasile Alecsandri, born in the Moldovan town of Bacău. Alecsandri, a prominent figure, is well-known not only for his literary contributions but also for his revolutionary works, such as Romania's Awakening and Wishes of the National Party of Moldova.
This myth of sacrifice for creation, which imbues history with vivid hues, has also served as inspiration for the painter Igor Vieru. Nourished by his lands and history, Vieru’s rustic-themed works are a rhapsody of Moldovan village life. His works now grace the halls of the National Art Museum of Moldova in an exhibition titled 100 Years since His Birth.