{"id":5138,"date":"2025-03-06T17:20:37","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/?post_type=object&p=5138"},"modified":"2025-03-06T17:20:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:20:37","slug":"monument-to-swietopelk-the-great","status":"publish","type":"object","link":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/obiekt\/monument-to-swietopelk-the-great\/","title":{"rendered":"Monument to \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k the Great"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dimensions:<\/strong> 2.8 m<\/p>\n

Object:<\/strong> The monument to \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k II the Great was unveiled during the 750th St. Dominic\u2019s Fair, which was allegedly established by duke \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k II, who ruled Gda\u0144sk between 1227 and 1266. The statue was initiated by the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association to honour the ruler\u2019s contributions to Gda\u0144sk. The depiction is an idealised image inspired by representations of legendary Vikings and emphasised masculine physical attributes.<\/p>\n

The bronze monument depicts a standing man gazing into the distance, shading his eyes against the sun with his left hand. In his right hand, resting on a shield, he holds a scroll symbolising the city\u2019s founding charter. At the base of the statue is a plaque inscribed with \u2018\u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k Wielki\u2019 (\u2018\u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k the Great\u2019). The entire composition is mounted on a pedestal with inscriptions and bronze replicas of the duke\u2019s seals.<\/p>\n

\u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k is dressed in full chainmail armour, common until the late 13th century, with a tunic over it and a cloak fastened with a clasp depicting an image consistent with the iconography of Gda\u0144sk\u2019s first seal \u2013 a cog with twelve stars. On his head is an ahistorical helmet, an artistic interpretation of either a lobster-tailed pot helmet or a nasal helmet, neither of which were in use during the 13th century. Similarly, the kite shield, popular in the 12th century, is oversized. It is adorned with a fleur-de-lis, a symbol present on the duke\u2019s seals, although current research does not confirm its use as his coat of arms. The ensemble is completed with a fluttering pennant wrapped around the shaft of a spear held in the crook of the prince\u2019s right elbow.<\/p>\n

Although surviving iconographic materials depict the duke clean-shaven, the artist chose to alter the image by giving \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k a beard \u2013 not only on the monument but also on the seals decorating the pedestal, which are replicas of the duke\u2019s original seals. The plinth bears an inscription in the Kashubian language: \u2018Zrzeszon\u00ebch naju nicht nie z\u0142\u00f3mie\u2019 (\u2018United, no one will break us\u2019).<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> The monument is situated on land originally granted by \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k to the Dominicans on 22 January 1227. Initially covered with meadows, the area gradually became densely built up but was destroyed during the war in 1945. During Gda\u0144sk\u2019s reconstruction, this quarter was adapted into a square, and Ksi\u0119\u017ca Street was removed. In 2016, the square underwent revitalisation, making it more welcoming to residents and tourists. These changes were the result of collaboration between the city, residents, and the association Inicjatywa Miasto, which conducted public consultations on the area\u2019s redevelopment. Outdated and non-functional pathways were removed, increasing the green space within the square. Additionally, the layout of the former Ksi\u0119\u017ca Street was marked using distinctive paving colours.<\/p>\n

Information about the author:<\/strong> Wawrzyniec Samp (b. 25 June 1939) is a sculptor. He studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the State School of Fine Arts (PWSSP) in Gda\u0144sk, graduating in 1964 from Prof. Stanis\u0142aw Horno-Pop\u0142awski\u2019s studio. Samp also majored in architectural and sculptural design and ceramics. His portfolio includes sculpture, medal-making, artistic blacksmithing, heraldry and design of sacral spaces. He is the author of many monuments, e.g.\u00a0To Those Who for the Polish Identity of Gda\u0144sk\u2026<\/em>, statue of John Paul II at Saint Bridget\u2019s Church in Gda\u0144sk, statue of Cardinal Stefan Wyszy\u0144ski in the Gniezno cathedral, and the coat of arms of the Pomeranian voivodship.<\/p>\n

Condition of the object: <\/strong>good<\/p>\n

Owner\/guardian: <\/strong>Kashubian-Pomeranian Association<\/p>\n

Author of the entry: <\/strong>Noemi Etush<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The monument to \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k II the Great was unveiled during the 750th St. Dominic\u2019s Fair, which was allegedly established by duke \u015awi\u0119tope\u0142k II, who ruled Gda\u0144sk between 1227 and 1266. The statue was initiated by the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association to honour the ruler\u2019s contributions to Gda\u0144sk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"menu_order":136,"template":"","object_cats":[37,39],"districts":[156],"object_authors":[139],"class_list":["post-5138","object","type-object","status-publish","hentry","object_cat-monument","object_cat-sculpture","obj_district-down-town","object_author-noemi-etush-2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/objects\/5138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/objects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/object"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"object_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/object_cats?post=5138"},{"taxonomy":"obj_district","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/districts?post=5138"},{"taxonomy":"object_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaps.gda.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/object_authors?post=5138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}