Page 25 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow
P. 25
THE HIST OR Y OF KR AK OW 23
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Methodius and his brother Where to See
Cyril are two of the three Prehistoric Krakow
Patrons of Europe. Together
they converted the pagans Very little has survived from
of Moravia to Christianity, prehistoric times in Krakow.
which spread gradually There are, however, two mounds
among neighbouring Slav worth a visit: Krakus Mound
lands, including Poland. dominating the southern
quarters, and Wanda Mound
near Mogiła village. The Archae
ological Museum (see p85) houses
many interesting artifacts from
Wawel means a hill southern Poland, and Krakow
surrounded by marshes and the region surrounding it
in particular. The figure of the
fourfaced pagan idol Światowid
is of special interest.
Krakus Mound contains,
according to legend, a tomb
of Krak, the ancient ruler of
Krakow. In reality it was more
likely to have been used as a
religious site of the Celts.
Iron Treasures
Iron objects in the form of
elongated axes found at
Wawel Hill were used as
Światowid a form of payment in
This statue represents a four the 11th century.
faced idol holding a cornucopia.
Evidence of ancient pagan
cults has been found at the
Wawel and other sites.
600–1000 Vistulans establish 965 Ibrahim Ibn Yaqub, an
their state, possibly with Arab traveller, comments
Krakow as the capital on Krakow as a Czech city
400 600 800 1000
before 885 The Vistulans’ state before 992 Mieszko I
loses its independence. adds the former state
Early medieval Krakow becomes part of of the Vistulans to his
earthenware vase the Great Moravian Empire other territories
