Extraordinarily Well-Preserved 3,000-Year-Old Octagonal Sword Unearthed in Närdlingen, Germany.
Found at the site of a former Celtic settlement, the sword was buried with other bronze objects in a grave alongside three people (a man, a woman, and a boy). Although this grouping is suggestive of a family unit, archeologists were keen to stress it remains unclear how, if at all, the three were related.
Although the sword bears little sign of having being used in combat, archeologists say they believe it was a real rather than an ornamental weapon. “The center of gravity in the front part of the blade indicates that it was balanced mainly for slashing,” according to the statement.
Found at the site of a former Celtic settlement, the sword was buried with other bronze objects in a grave alongside three people (a man, a woman, and a boy). Although this grouping is suggestive of a family unit, archeologists were keen to stress it remains unclear how, if at all, the three were related.
Although the sword bears little sign of having being used in combat, archeologists say they believe it was a real rather than an ornamental weapon. “The center of gravity in the front part of the blade indicates that it was balanced mainly for slashing,” according to the statement.
"The Defense of the Sampo" — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1896.
The scene portrayed is taken from the 43rd song of the Kalevala, where the hero Väinämöinen, seen wielding a sword, has stolen the precious artifact Sampo from the evil witch Louhi, and she, having taken the form of a giant bird, is trying to reclaim it.
The battle for the Sampo is also given a deeper connotation as a battle for the soul of Finland.
The scene portrayed is taken from the 43rd song of the Kalevala, where the hero Väinämöinen, seen wielding a sword, has stolen the precious artifact Sampo from the evil witch Louhi, and she, having taken the form of a giant bird, is trying to reclaim it.
The battle for the Sampo is also given a deeper connotation as a battle for the soul of Finland.
Viscri fortified church, Transylvania, Romania.
The fortified church dating back to the thirteenth century, was built by the German colonists who settled in these parts of the country at the end of the twelfth century and found here a chapel.
This was partially included in the fortified church.The church was first attested in 1400 as “alba ecclesia” and the document is a register of the taxes paid to the episcopate.
In the 14th century the eastern part of the church was rebuilt and in 1525, the first fortifications with towers were added. Two towers were placed outside the yard, on the Eastern and Southern sides. In the other cardinal points other towers were built: on the North one in a trapezoidal shape, in the East the smallest and most similar to a square. They are all provided with holes through which those inside could protect the fortification with medium or high caliber guns or arches with arrows.
The towers are very well preserved creating a sense of greatness to the entire system of fortifications. In the 18th century the church was surrounded by a second defense wall. The rooms in the tower played various roles in time. Some of them were used to store cereals, while others functioned as school.
The fortified church dating back to the thirteenth century, was built by the German colonists who settled in these parts of the country at the end of the twelfth century and found here a chapel.
This was partially included in the fortified church.The church was first attested in 1400 as “alba ecclesia” and the document is a register of the taxes paid to the episcopate.
In the 14th century the eastern part of the church was rebuilt and in 1525, the first fortifications with towers were added. Two towers were placed outside the yard, on the Eastern and Southern sides. In the other cardinal points other towers were built: on the North one in a trapezoidal shape, in the East the smallest and most similar to a square. They are all provided with holes through which those inside could protect the fortification with medium or high caliber guns or arches with arrows.
The towers are very well preserved creating a sense of greatness to the entire system of fortifications. In the 18th century the church was surrounded by a second defense wall. The rooms in the tower played various roles in time. Some of them were used to store cereals, while others functioned as school.