Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

THE HIST OR Y OF LITHU ANIA  217

Surviving the Centuries
Artifacts found during excavations of the remains of the Royal
Palace in Vilnius include decorative tiles, coins and exquisitely
crafted jewellery. While the tiles and coins date from the 16th
century, some of the jewellery dates back to the 14th century.
The collection is likely to go on display once the newly
reconstructed palace is completed.

Tile, 16th century Coin, 16th century

Vilnius University, which the
Jesuits had founded as an academy
in 1568, was upgraded to a
university 11 years later by Stefan
Bathory (1533–86), the Grand Duke
of Lithuania and King of Poland.

The icon of the Virgin Mary at the
Gates of Dawn in Vilnius is a fine
example of religious painting from
the period. It was originally pain ted
on oak panels in the 1620s.

Grand Duke Vytautas The first book printed in the
Lithuanian language was
Catechism (1547) by Martynas
Mažvydas. Appearing in the
Duchy at a time when Polish
was the preferred language of
the aristocracy, the book had a
great appeal for the pagan
rural masses.

The Christianization of Lithuania took place in
1387, following the union of Lithuania and
Poland. However, unlike the dramatic mass
conversion depicted in this 19th-century paint ing
by Jan Matejko, many parts of Lithuania remained
pagan into the 16th century.

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