Divljana
Village in Southern and Eastern Serbia, Serbia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Divljana (Serbian: Дивљана) is a village in the municipality of Bela Palanka, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 141 people.[1] Divljana Monastery is one of the landmarks in Divljana.
Divljana | |
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Village | |
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  Divljana | |
| Coordinates: 43°10′38″N 22°18′16″E | |
| Country |  Serbia |
| Region | Southern and Eastern Serbia |
| District | Pirot |
| Municipality |  Bela Palanka |
| Population (2002) | |
• Total | 141 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Zapis oak
There is a large old oak tree in Divljana that is a zapis ("inscription"), a village tree considered sacred. In a custom originating in pre-Christian Slavic mythology, a large tree, usually an oak, would have a cross carved into its bark, and would serve as a temple. Oak trees were sanctified in the settlements which had no church of their own. Experts from the Niš Institute for the natural protection estimated that it sprouted in c. 1400.[2]
The trunk is completely open and hollow on one side. Inside, eight adults can fit, or a table and chairs. The tree, a durmast oak, is under state protection as a natural monument. Circumference of the Divljana oak trunk (as of 2017) is 6.35 m (20.8 ft), diameter is 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in), while the diameter of the crown is 23.13 m (75.9 ft). The tree is 13.43 m (44.1 ft) tall.[2]
