Triglav, Zlatorog

The 2nd Mountain Rifle Regiment (formerly the 27th Landwehr Infantry Regiment) was headquartered in Laibach (now Ljubljana). The regiment’s crew was of Slovenian nationality. A chamois can be seen on their badge. But why? On other regimental badges, animal representations more likely depict an eagle (often two-headed) or a lion. Why did a not very warlike herbivorous animal appear on the badge? For a long time, I had no clue that could explain this.

I recently planned a hike to Lake Bohinj. This region is already part of the Julian Alps, the terrain before the highest ranges. From there, you can continue to Triglav, which is the highest peak of the mountain range and of Slovenia. The front line ran along its southwestern side during the Great War. While browsing, I found photos of a chamois statue that resembles the animal depicted on the badge. The statue itself doesn’t look old, but since it’s also on the badge, there must have been an earlier version of it 120 years ago. The statue’s name is Zlatorog, meaning golden horn. Online sources are full of information about an old Slovenian legend, according to which the Golden Horn will lead the seeker to a treasure buried on Triglav. If only he meets the animal. Of course, no one has seen it so far, so the treasure is still up on the mountain. You can try!

The Golden Horn also got a statue in another settlement. But it doesn’t depict a chamois, but a mountain goat, with large, backward-curving horns. Unfortunately, the legend doesn’t say clearly whether Zlatorog is a chamois or a goat…