The Legend of Zlatorog
The blood of the Zlatorog has grown into the Triglav flower.
A young hunter from the Trenta Valley grew up in the care of white women. He carried bouquets of mountain flowers to a beautiful girl from the valley and won her love. One day, however, a rich merchant from Venice became engaged to the girl, presented her with gold jewellery and said that if he loved her enough, her hunter should bring her the Zlatorog's treasure. Now the girl no longer cared for the poor hunter.
Desperate and offended, he set off the same night to find the Zlatorog. In the morning, he saw him on a high rock, shot at him, but forgot about his miraculous power. From the blood of the mortally wounded animal grew the miraculous Triglav flowers.
The dying Zlatorog used one, and it instantly restored his great life force. It raced towards the hunter, who staggered into the abyss, frightened and blinded by the glow of its golden horns. The rising Soča river brought his body down to the valley.
In holy anger, the Zlatorog destroyed its mountain paradise and disappeared forever. The white wives went with him. His treasure remained hidden in the mountains below Triglav.
