FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS
“Five Foolish Virgins” is a star-shaped cluster of five standing stones under the Karmsund bridge. They are situated by the narrowest point of the strait, very visible for people who once sailed along the coast. This cluster of stones is a burial site from the Late Roman period, about 300 AD.
A bronze vessel, wrapped in birch bark, was found in the grave. Inside the vessel were the cremated bones of a middle aged man. Together with the bones were also five bear claws.
Tradition claims that the stones are part of a religious/magical calendar system, where these stones are in relation with other monoliths in the area, including the five, even larger, monoliths that once stood where St. Olaf's Church is located today.
St Olaf and the Five Foolish Virgins
The name “Five Foolish Virgins” comes from this legend about Olaf the Holy:
Saint Olaf frequently travelled around the country and Christianized people. One time he had been up north, and he was sailing his ship back to the royal estate at Avaldsnes.
When he passed the narrowest point of the strait Karmsundet, he saw five haughty girls standing on the mainland side and waved at him. The King, however, didn’t allow himself to be tempted. Instead he cried out: “Now, stand there and turn to stone, until I come back again”.
Immediately the virgins turned to stones. They are still standing there, looking over the strait Karmsund, waiting for the King to return.
