On the outskirts of Roskilde, a group of rocks bears distinctive parallel scratches that local legend attributes to the Devil's fingers — his attempt to claw his way into the town to prevent the building of the cathedral. The geological explanation is far less dramatic, but the stones are an interesting example of how natural features get absorbed into local mythology around ancient religious sites.
The rocks are modest in themselves, but they form part of a broader landscape of folklore around Roskilde that includes the Hel-Horse grave near the cathedral. Together they reflect the town's long history as a place where Christianity overlaid much older Norse beliefs, leaving a residue of legend that is still attached to specific spots in the landscape.