Mother of the Nine Jugovićs
A symbol of maternal devotion, endurance, and the profound grief that transcends human limits
The Enduring Mother
The Mother of the Jugovićs is a woman who, in the Battle of Kosovo, lost her husband and all nine of her sons. She is a symbol of the enduring mother, a mother of heroes who bravely bears the death of her loved ones, until her immense suffering and emotional pain exceed the limits of human endurance and shatter her very being.
Driven by her overwhelming concern for her sons and her desperate need to know their fate, she prayed to God for the eyes of a hawk and the wings of a swan. God, knowing the depth of her tragedy, granted her wish. When she finally arrived at Kosovo and saw her sons lying dead, she suffered tremendous grief, yet she did not cry. Her heart was strong, and she withstood this immense trial.
When she returned to the court and delivered the sorrowful news, everyone wept except her. She listened to the loud cries of her daughters-in-law and witnessed their pain, but even then, she shed no tears. Her mourning was deep and silent, hidden within her soul.
The Breaking Point
During the night, her son Damjan's horse cried out. Although she understood the reason, she wished someone would mislead her so she could ease her suffering. She asked if the horse was hungry or thirsty, but when Damjan's wife told her it cried because it had lost its master, her grief grew even greater yet she endured even that.
The next morning, two black ravens with bloodied wings flew in, dropping the hand of her son into her lap. It was Damjan's hand, a grim reminder that stirred her memories and thoughts of her sons. This marked the pinnacle of her endurance. She could endure no more. Her pain and sorrow, eating away at her from within, finally broke her completely. Her heart, and ultimately her entire body, could bear no more. Swollen and shattered, she died, uniting in death with her husband and sons.
A Symbol of Boundless Love
The Mother of the Jugović's love for her sons was immense, and the grief in her soul at their loss even greater. She was a courageous, strong, and enduring woman, yet she could not survive the death of her loved ones.
Her love is a symbol of maternal devotion without limits, a love that cannot be measured or contained by anything.
