Peak of Mount Triglav (After 1849) by Marko PernhartNational Museum of Slovenia
Triglav
Triglav (2864 m) is the highest peak in Slovenia. Opinions about the origin and meaning of the name of the mountain are divided.
Tri-glav (eng. Three-heads) most probably refers to the shape of the mountain as seen from Bohinj, but it is unlikely that the mountain is named after the ancient Slavic pagan deity Triglav - the lord of water, land and air.
Lake under Mangart (1826) by Anton KaringerNational Museum of Slovenia
The mountain is an important symbol of the Slovenian nation. It is part of the Slovenian flag and coat of arms. With the introduction of the euro, it is on the back of the Slovenian euro coin for 50 cents.
Triglav as a name or as a symbol is also part of many cultural and sports associations in Slovenia.
Peak of Mount Triglav (After 1849) by Marko PernhartNational Museum of Slovenia
The unwritten rule is that every Slovene must go to Triglav at least once to become a "true Slovene".
At the top of Triglav, next to the Aljaž Tower, every mountaineer who climbs to the top of Slovenia for the first time is baptized.
Beautiful Slovenia by Danilo LesjakAlpine Association of Slovenia
In one of the most typical traditional mountaineering rites, the baptized man looks down facing the turret and gets whacked on his behinds three times with the climbing rope by someone who has already done the climb on Triglav.
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