4 ELEMENTS

Project logo
Improve the foreign language learning and intercultural competences of adults through e-learning

The project

FOUR ELEMENTS is an initiative called to raise awareness and appreciation of the importance of culture and heritage as well as to train educators working with adult learners who want to improve their skills and competences necessary in today’s EU labour market.

The project will take advantage of the potential of the common European cultural values associated to the 4 elements earth, water, air and fire) to empower adults to improve their digital, foreign language and intercultural competences.

The partnership expects to develop and deliver innovative teaching materials presented in a culturally accessible E-book consisting of European legends and stories – giving visibility to the underlying common EU values and principles, especially adapted to learners with special needs.

To achieved such objectives, partners will develop:

An interactive map: a collection of legends and stories related to earth, water, air and fire, in different EU countries.

Digital Books with national legends and stories related to the four elements.

Methodological recommendations for adult educators.

To find more information, access the Four Elements platform here.

Digital books

The nations of Europe all have rich cultures of myth and folklore which give the different regions their particular individual flavour. Here we have grouped traditional stories from Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain according to the four elements: earth, air, wind and fire.

They are specially adapted to adult learners and can be used to develop language or ICT skills among your students while enhancing intercultural understanding.

Alongside the stories, this digital book contains interactive exercises and is in Easy Read format. All the material in it can be downloaded and printed. Teachers and trainers will find tips and suggestions for how to use it on the Recommendations section of this site.

European partnership

Four Elements is an Erasmus+ KA204 project designed to highlight the importance of culture and heritage at European Union level. It aims to train educators working with adult learners to enable them to acquire the skills and competences, including linguistic and digital skills and competences, required in the European labour market.

The project is coordinated by : CVO EduKempen (Belgium). The partnership also includes DomSpain Consulting (Spain), The Central Library of Võru County (Estonia), Les Apprimeurs (France), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy), Slovenian Third Age University (Slovenia), MyArtist (Greece).

Erasmus+ project

Erasmus logo The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The City of Ys

LEGEND

Main element: Water

Language of the original: French

Date of origin: XVth century

To find more information about the legend, access the Four Elements platform here.

The legend of the City of Ys is one the most famous maritime legend in France. It is also the most famous legendary story of Brittany. The first mention of the city of Ys goes back to the 15th century. Using the mythical theme of the sunken cities, the legend of the city of Ys was largely Christianized through the years.

Once upon a time, Gradlon the Great, king of Cornwall, married Malgven, goddess of the north. But she died in the open sea giving birth to their daughter, Dahut. Dahut grew up and became very beautiful. She asked her father to build her a city in the heart of the ocean, the wonderful city of Ys. Ys was protected from the sea by solid seawalls. Two enormous doors closed the harbour and only the king had the keys.

The terrible and young Dahut dreamt of a city where happiness, freedom and wealth would prevail.

Dahut gave the city a dragon who seized any passing merchant ships. Thus, the city of Ys got richer and richer, making it the most powerful city in Britanny. The young princess ruled over the city as a true queen. But every night, she brought new lovers to the palace and in the morning she killed them, throwing their corpses over the cliff into the ocean.

One bright morning, a handsome prince, all dressed in red, arrived in the city of Ys. Dahut fell instantly in love with this mysterious man. However, he was the devil in disguise, sent by God, to punish the sinful city. Madly in love, Dahut stole the keys to the city doors from her father, so she could give them to the prince.

The devil opened the enormous doors and the entire ocean rushed into the city, seeping in the streets, carrying the people away. In a few seconds the city was completely drowned.

Only the king, Gradlon, who was a fervent Christian, managed to run away from this disaster with the help of Saint Gwenolé. On his seahorse, he rode with difficulty through the waves, slowed down by a weight. He looked back and saw his daughter holding on to his horse. Under Saint Gwenolé’s order, he pushed his daughter away and managed to return to the shore.

Still today, the legend has it that, when the weather is merciful, one can hear the bells of the wonderful city of Ys ringing under the water.

La Ville d'Ys

LÉGENDE

Élément : Eau

Langue d'origine : Français

Date d'origine : XVth century

Vous pouvez retrouver plus d'informations sur cette légende sur le site du projet ici.

La légende de la ville d'Ys est l'une des plus célèbres légendes maritimes de France. C'est aussi l'histoire légendaire la plus célèbre de Bretagne. La première mention de la ville d'Ys remonte au 15e siècle. Utilisant le thème mythique des villes englouties, la légende de la ville d'Ys a été largement christianisée au fil des ans.

En ce temps-là, Gradlon le Grand, roi de Cornouaille épousa Malgven, déesse du nord. Mais cette dernière mourut en pleine mer en donnant naissance à leur fille, Dahut. Dahut grandit et devint très belle. Elle demanda à son père de lui construire une ville au cœur de l’océan, la merveilleuse cité d'Ys. Ys était protégée de la mer par une puissante digue. D’immenses portes fermaient le port et seul le roi pouvait décider de son ouverture ou de sa fermeture.

La terrible et jeune Dahut rêvait d'une cité où la joie de vivre, la liberté et la richesse seraient reines.

Dahut offrit alors à la ville un dragon qui s'empara de tous les navires marchands. Ainsi, la ville d'Ys s’enrichit et devint la ville la plus puissante de toute la Bretagne. La jeune princesse régnait sur la ville en véritable maîtresse. Chaque soir, elle faisait venir un nouvel amant au palais qu’elle tuait le lendemain matin, et jetait son corps du haut d’une falaise dans l’océan.

Un beau matin, un prince, tout de rouge vêtu, arriva dans la ville d’Ys. Dahut tomba dans l’instant amoureuse de ce mystérieux prince. Il s’agissait cependant du diable, envoyé par Dieu, afin de punir la ville pour ses péchés. Folle d’amour, Dahut déroba les clés des portes de la ville à son père pour les donner au prince.

Le diable ouvrit alors les portes et l'océan s’engouffra entre les portes de la ville, s’abattant dans les rues et sur les habitants, si bien que la ville fut complètement ensevelie en quelques secondes.

Seul le roi Gradlon, qui était un fervent chrétien, réussit à s'échapper de cette catastrophe avec l'aide de saint Gwénolé.

Sur le dos de son cheval marin, il se mit alors à chevaucher difficilement à travers les vagues comme ralenti par un poids. Il se rendit compte que sa fille s’était accrochée à son cheval pour se sauver. Sous l’ordre de saint Gwenolé, il poussa alors sa fille et réussit à regagner le rivage.

Aujourd'hui encore, la légende veut que lorsque le temps est calme, les pêcheurs de la baie de Douarnenez entendent sonner sous la mer, les cloches de la merveilleuse cité d’Ys.

Guyot, C. (1926). La légende de la ville d'Ys, d'après les anciens textes. Paris (19, rue Bonaparte), L'Édition d'art H. Piazza.