The Phallic Stone
The phallic stone is an essential element of such sanctuaries – a symbol of fertility. Together with womb-shaped caves, it represents the union of masculine and feminine forces that bring new life into the world.
Lada was revered as the goddess of love, marriage, pregnancy, fertility, and women’s affairs. By touching the stone and making a wish, one can experience the power of ancient legends and rituals through which Lada is said to help women conceive.
Its place in the sanctuary
In Mykola Kuhutiak’s model the Ternoshora sanctuary has four parts: a stone circle; the phallic stone and chthonic lizard; the anthropomorphic Lada figure; and cup stones, signs and zoomorphic images. The phallic stone represents the male principle that complements Lada’s female image, together symbolising fertility and the continuation of life. Local folk belief says people come here to ask for children — a legend, not a promise.
Nearby is the passage and the chthonic serpent. See how to get there.