Legend
Raki's blood: how Rakvere got its name
Raki veri ehk Rakvere nimelugu
Linguists have their own theories about the name Rakvere, but a folk tale gives a bloodier one. The Evil One sent a dog called Raki to torment Kalevipoeg. The hero simply lifted his foot and kicked the little cur, and Raki dropped dead. Its carcass was left to rot on the spot where the town's fairground later stood, and so the place became 'Raki vere', the place of Raki's blood. The story is so well known that the Estonian sign-language name for Rakvere imitates a kick. Another tale says the brook Soolikaoja was formed from the same dog's gut.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Keeleteadlastel on Rakvere nime kohta oma teooriad, kuid rahvajutt pakub verisema seletuse. Paharet saatnud Kalevipoega kiusama koera nimega Raki. Vägilane tõstnud lihtsalt jala ja äianud väikest kutsikat, nii et Raki langes surnult maha. Raibe jäi mädanema kohta, kus hiljem oli linna laadaplats, ja nii saigi paik nimeks Raki vere. Lugu on nii tuntud, et Rakvere viipenimi matkib jalalööki. Teise jutu järgi tekkis sama koera soolest Soolikaoja.
Source: After Eesti kohanimeraamat (EKI), Kalevipoeg place legend ↗