Szczerbiec is the ceremonial sword used in the coronations of most Polish monarchs from 1320 to 1764. It now is displayed in the treasure vault of the royal Wawel Castle in Kraków, as the only preserv
Obverse side of Szczerbiec (perspective-distorted)
Reverse side of Szczerbiec (perspective-distorted)
Szczerbiec on display in the Wawel Castle treasure vault
Jan Matejko, Boleslaus the Brave and Sviatopolk at the Golden Gate of Kyiv (1883)
The Golden Gate of Kyiv was the main gate in the 11th century fortifications of Kyiv, the capital of the Kievan Rus'. It was likely named in imitation of the Golden Gate of Constantinople. The structu
Szczerbiec
…notch/jag other weapons". The legend links Szczerbiec with King Boleslaus I the Brave who was said to have chipped the sword by hitting it against the Golden Gate of Kiev during his intervention in the Kievan succession crisis in 1018. However, the Golden Gate was only constructed in 1037 and the sword is actually…
1982 reconstruction of the Golden Gate, pictured in 2018 after major renovations
Remnants of the old Golden Gate in the 1970s, prior to its reconstruction.
The view of the gate from the "city side"