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A general introduction to vâlve: Vâlvele
Though this myths descriptions in literature vary, for this article I will focus on stories from the mining town of Roșia Montană.
Vâlva Băii is an apparition, a spirit that looks like a woman that shows itself to miners and is either clothed in white or black. Depending on how it is clothed, it either punishes miners if it’s clothed in black, or helps them, showing them where they might find gold, if it is clothed in white.
It is said that greed - taking too much out of the gold in a mine - is a reason why one might encounter the black one.
In the Apuseni mountains, where she watches the gold mines, it is belived that a mine without a vâlvă has no gold.
An account from a priest and writer:
‘My father used to say that vâlva is young and beautiful. She sets her eye on a young, vigorous man and when she encounters him alone in a corner of the mine, she shows herself… The young man is so stunned by her beauty that he is not able to speak. She beggins to carress him, telling him that she finds him dear and that she will show him where the gold is. This is how some find themselves rich over night. The vâlvă asks for one thing: not to speak a word about their meeting, if they dare to do so, they’re finished. But you know how man is and when he stumbles upon luck he cannot keep bars to his mouth; and then vâlva strangles them like baby sparrows. Afterwords she feels sorry for them as what was once dear to you, remains dear. After she has killed a man she gives plenty of gold to all the other miners to atone for her sin. It is so why the boys believe that if the bath (the mine) takes a man, they will strike gold.’
The most famous story involving Vâlva albă (the white one) is Mihail Gritta and Vâlva Albă.
In Roșia Montană miners would take the song of a rooster as an omen of danger and head towards exiting the mine. If an accident were to happen it would be signaled by a crow, crowing perched on top of crow’s stone.
Vâlva Băii
The mines around Alba county, particularly present in the village of Roșia Montană - a town whose history with mining goes back to Dacian times.