a r c h a e o l og y
VASA... the most wonderful Text MATEUSZ POPEK Photos WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Vasa, a fully intact 64 gun warship from the 17th century that was salvaged
On August 10, 1628, the Stockholm harbour was crowded with people whose eyes were focused on one place, where King Gustav II Adolf himself was standing.
1,210 tons, and the crew consisted of
at sea. Galleon flotillas participated in
437 sailors. The ship was equipped with
spectacular battles. Among these trou-
64, guns, which was a formidable fire-
bled times one man stood out – com-
power at that time. The king personally
mander, strategist, reformer, warrior,
supervised the construction and equip-
"Lion of the North", Gustav II Adolf, king
ment of the ship, so that it would be
of Sweden. He waged wars with Russia
second to none.
and Germany, reformed the army and
The entire ship was to be a floating
made Sweden the hegemon of the Baltic
declaration of the power of the Swedish
Sea. However, he was most in conflict
king. The deck was decorated with sculp-
with the Republic of Poland, where his
tures referring to the Bible or Greek he-
great-uncle, Sigismund III Vasa, was on
roes. There are also sculptures of the
roud of his work, baptised his
the throne. Their conflict was not only
king's worst enemies, i.e. Poles, placed in
greatest ship, giving it the name
political or family, but also symbolic.
the bow of the ship. These figures were
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Baltic states clashed, both on land and
"Vasa" to emphasise the great-
Such a symbol of victory and domi-
huddled under the benches, which was
ness of his dynasty. After a while, the
nation was to be the greatest warship
supposed to refer to the habit of "bark-
ship was proudly leaving the port set-
of all time, which Gustaw Adolf had built.
ing back" (the habit of making a slander-
ting the topsails and the crowd cheered.
Its splendor was supposed to outshine
er back his or her wrong words). These
As an unexpected gust of wind filled the
all the ships sailing on the Baltic Sea.
sculptures were placed in such a way so
sails, the ship leaned over, the king paled
The keel was laid in 1626 and the works
that the sailors relieving themselves in
and the crowd fell silent.
lasted for two years. At that time, a huge
the latrines could see them perfectly,
In the 17th century, the Baltic Sea
ship was built, 61 meters long and more
knowing how to treat the enemies of
was an arena of constant fights. The
than 11 meters wide. Its buoyancy was
the crown.
