ITCHY FEET TRAVELS

Ljubljana, Slovenia

June 2, 2025

The dragons at the ends of the Dragon bridge of Ljubljana are arguably the most photographed object in this city. But it isn’t only the four dragons at the ends of the bridge. Look carefully and you find two dragons on each of the eight pillars atop the bridge. Nor are they the only ones. There are others hanging from walls, on tiles on placards and postcards.  But why dragons?

I had fallen into a conversation with a local guide and delighted in asking her. The answer, I was told is that it represents the dragons on Slovenia’s coat of arms.

“But why dragons?” I continued the pestering.

“Well” she said, “this area used to be a swamp in the old days and people often saw odd lights which they thought were dragons breathing fire”.

Ah! Light dawns. Literally. Phosphorescence from decaying matter, often called Jack-o-lanterns or Will-o-Wisps in other parts of the world. Stories of old Loch Ness monster comes to mind.

Then again, it isn’t just dragons lurking in unexpected corners. This part of the city is dotted with weirdly creepy sculptures popping here and there. There’s the supposed Satyr with his tail at one end of the Butcher’s bridge, a half-decomposed human form at the other, a fearsome looking wolf at one corner and nearby, a plant with thorns and barbs atop a pedestal. Two more statues, a man and a woman at the other end of the bridge are equally unsettling to view. My mind flashed back to the mysterious Gobekli Tepe that I saw in Turkey where each building was carved with dangerous and scary creatures. But no accounts of who created them or why exist.

Here I thought, the answer should be simple to find. But the guide whom I’d been torturing, said the bridge itself was supposed to represent the garden of Eden and the fleeing couple, Adam and Eve. The decomposed body is supposed to be Prometheus. Where the satyr plays a role, I am not quite sure. Nor do the wolf and the thorns make sense.  Another local I asked simply said, these sculptures are the diseased and bad being washed away in the river.

Whatever the answer, Ljubljana has invented for herself a history she claims proudly. Witches swing overhead on broomsticks in shops and tales get added to intrigue visitors. Topping all is the story of Frederik the Rat, a lovable and friendly prisoner in castle. The guide I had been torturing told me that Frederik’s tale is fairly new, having been conjured in the last couple of years. The gift shops feature Frederik prominently on Tshirts, hats, mugs, posters, magnets and posters. A brilliant marketing strategy if nothing else!