#Nicolaus Copernicus Monument

[travelella]

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Warsaw, Poland

Rafael Ishkhanyan

[blueiscoool]

Rare 1,000-Year-Old ‘Viking Sword’ Found in Poland

Thought to be older than Poland itself, archaeologists have hailed the discovery of an ancient sword at the bottom of the Wisła as being “a national sensation”.

The discovery was made last week during dredging works conducted on the river running through the central city of Włocławek where, during routine silt removal, workers noticed an oblong, metal object amid the extracted sediment.

Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji Włocławek were the first to break the news, writing on their social media: “During works on the marina an item was excavated that has a great chance of gaining unique status.

“After quickly consulting with Mr Olaf Popkiewicz from the History Seekers society, it was tentatively dated to around the 9th century.”

Soon after, the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments took the weapon to Toruń, handing it over to researchers from the Nicolaus Copernicus University.

Inscribed with the words Ulfberht, just eight other such swords are known to exist in Poland, and only 170 in the rest of Europe.

Sambor Gawiński of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian branch of the conservator’s office underlined the importance of the discovery, saying: “This is an extremely valuable find. We know that these so-called Ulfberht swords were produced somewhere in Central Europe, but it’s not known exactly where.

Continuing, he added: “They were manufactured using very specific methods using carbon steel and a very precise composition.

“The amount of carbon steel that was used was strictly defined, making the sword very strong and flexible – its durability and combat value depended on this.”

The inscription was found following an X-ray of the object, with Gawiński saying that this dates the sword to before 950 AD.

“More importantly, after lying in silt for over 1,000 years, the sword has been preserved in excellent condition,” he said.

Valued at over PLN 100,000, the sword's fine condition is likely to aid historians looking to find out more.

As it stands, much mystery surrounds the sword, in particular how it ended up in Włocławek.

With other 40 such implements found in Norway, some have speculated that it belonged to a Viking.

Others, meanwhile, have suggested that it may simply have been acquired by a local as part of a merchant transaction.

Experts, though, have warned against jumping to conclusions. “Several theories have been posted and so far all variants are acceptable, but we need to wait for the results of more detailed research,” says Gawiński.

By Alex Webber.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Super-Jupiter from the Great Bear

The scientists behind the discovery are from the Nicolaus Copernicus Univeristy Institute of Astronomy: dr habil. Gracjan Maciejewski, NCU Prof., prof. dr habil. Andrzej Niedzielski, prof. dr habil. Krzysztof Goździewski and a fifth-year astronomy student, Julia Sierzputowska. In collaboration with researchers from Spain and the United States, including Prof. Aleksander Wolszczan, they described the cosmic finding in the prestigious scientific journal "Astronomy & Astrophysics".

An inconspicuous star with a massive planet

We are dealing with an extremely massive exoplanet - as much as eleven times the mass of Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System. It orbits its parent star in 14 years, and is six astronomical units away from it (the astronomical unit [a.u.] is a conventional measure of distance used in astronomy, the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. It is 149,597,870.7 km. For example: The Moon is 0.026 a.u. from the Earth, while Jupiter is 5.2 a.u. from the Sun).

- We cannot see a planet, but we can spot the star around which it orbits - with a small telescope as small as 10 cm. The star's physical parameters are similar to those of the Sun. The data indicate that it is 20 percent more massive and twice as large as the Sun. Interestingly, it has already completed the stage of evolution that the Sun is currently in; it has a backyard '5 billion years behind it. We can therefore estimate that this is also the age of the entire planetary system,' explains dr habil. Gracjan Maciejewski, NCU Prof., leader of the research group from the NCU Institute of Astronomy. - It is located on the northern side of the sky in the Great Bear constellation and bears the designation HD 118203, because it was first listed in Henry Draper's stellar catalogue under this number. The telescope used to make the observations for this catalogue more than a century ago is now located in our observatory in Piwnice, near Torun.

The Draper telescope is one of the world's first astrographs, or photographic recorders of celestial sphere phenomena. It was built in 1891 as a 'memorial' to the prematurely deceased American spectroscopic physicist Henry Draper, with which his wife Anna Maria supported the Harvard Observatory's ambitious programme, led by Edward C. Pickering, to develop a catalogue of photographic and photovisual brightnesses of stars and their spectral classification. More than 60,000 photometric and spectral images of the sky were taken with this telescope in Cambridge, and it contributed so much to Pickering's intention that the compiled inventory containing almost a quarter of a million stars was called the Henry Draper catalogue. The 'HD' star designations are still used today and are familiar to all astronomers around the world.

How did Draper's astrograph find its way to Piwnice? In autumn 1947, the construction of the first observatory pavilion of the NCU Astronomical Observatory with a rotating dome of five metres in diameter began. Two years later, an astrograph sent from Cambridge stood there and, after the necessary adaptations, began regular observational work.

Today this interesting monument, unique in the world, has become an attraction for visitors to the NCU Institute of Astronomy in Piwnice. 

Patience pays off

For nearly 20 years, astronomers have known that the star HD 118203 orbits a fairly massive planet. In 2006, the first gas giant was discovered, with a mass of two Jupiter masses, orbiting the star in a tight orbit in just six days.

Doppler observations, however, indicated that this was not the end of the story, that there might be another planet out there. Therefore, we immediately included this system in our observational programmes,' says Prof. Andrzej Niedzielski, co-author of the discovery. – At first, as part of the Torun-Pennsylvania exoplanet research programme, conducted in collaboration with Professor Aleksander Wolszczan, we tracked the object with one of the largest optical instruments on Earth, the nine-metre Hobby-Eberly Telescope in Texas.

The results were so promising that the Torunians, with collaborators from Spain, continued observations of the star in the Canary Islands, using the Italian Galileo telescope. This observatory was equipped with the best instrumentation designed to discover planets.

- However, eight years of research have not provided an answer as to what type of an object it is, ' adds Prof. Niedzielski.

It took another seven years for astronomers in Torun to obtain indisputable evidence that they were dealing with a planet.

Patience pays off,' says Prof. Maciejewski. - The new observations collected in March 2023 proved crucial in determining the planet's orbital parameters. Moreover, because it takes a planet several years to orbit its star, we were able to combine our Doppler observations with available astrometric measurements to unambiguously determine its mass. This allowed us to build a complete model of this planetary system and study its dynamical behaviour.   

Before that, however, it was necessary to make sure that there were no more planets hiding in the system. This task was undertaken by Julia Sierzputowska, a student of astronomy.

I analysed photometric observations obtained with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite space telescope, showing that there were no other planets around HD 118203 larger than twice the size of Earth, and therefore not massive enough to be relevant for studying the dynamics of the system.  

Planetary tandem

It turned out that the astronomers had discovered a hierarchical planetary system.

It is a peculiar configuration in which one planet forms a tight pair with its star, and a second planet orbits the pair in an orbit wide enough to, as it were, form another pair with the first one,' explains Prof. Krzysztof Goździewski, who conducted detailed numerical studies of the system's dynamics.

Both planets are massive and orbit in rather elongated orbits. Despite this, their mutual gravitational influence does not destabilise the system on a scale of millions of years.

- We have shown that this is due to effects arising from the general theory of relativity. If it were not for these effects, the planets would behave like jittery springs, constantly changing the shape of their orbits and their orientation in space,' adds Prof. Goździewski.

Cosmic answers

Astronomers admit that knowledge of the formation and evolution of planetary systems still hides many fundamental unknowns. Hierarchical systems like HD 118203, of which only a dozen are known, allow them to probe hypotheses for the formation of massive planets.

An interesting question is about the paths of development of such planetary configurations,' says Prof. Maciejewski. - Although from our point of view - inhabitants of the Solar System - they are quite 'exotic', learning about systems with massive gaseous planets seems important so that we can get to know our nearest, 'astronomical backyard'.

- Our work does not end. We are still conducting observations and analysing data - there are chances for further planetary discoveries,' says Prof Niedzielski. - It is gratifying that we manage to involve students and doctoral students in this interesting and important research.

TOP IMAGE: Artist's vision of a cold super-Jupiter in the HD 118203 system. It is an extremely massive gas planet orbiting its star in an orbit six times that of Earth. Astronomers believe it has very low temperatures Credit UMK

LOWER IMAGE: The Draper telescope is one of the world's first astrographs, or photographic recorders of celestial sphere phenomena. It was built in 1891 as a 'memorial' to the prematurely deceased American spectroscopic physicist Henry Draper, with which his wife Anna Maria supported the Harvard Observatory's ambitious programme, led by Edward C. Pickering, to develop a catalogue of photographic and photovisual brightnesses of stars and their spectral classification. More than 60,000 photometric and spectral images of the sky were taken with this telescope in Cambridge, and it contributed so much to Pickering's intention that the compiled inventory containing almost a quarter of a million stars was called the Henry Draper catalogue. The 'HD' star designations are still used today and are familiar to all astronomers around the world.How did Draper's astrograph find its way to Piwnice (Poland)? In autumn 1947, the construction of the first observatory pavilion of the NCU Astronomical Observatory with a rotating dome of five metres in diameter began. Two years later, an astrograph sent from Cambridge stood there and, after the necessary adaptations, began regular observational work. Today this interesting monument, unique in the world, has become an attraction for visitors to the NCU Institute of Astronomy in Piwnice.  Credit Andrzej Romanski/UMK

[stillunusual]

WARSAW’S URBAN SCENERY Nicolaus Copernicus Monument This bronze statue of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) is located on Krakowskie Przedmieście, in front of the Staszic Palace, the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences. It was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1822 and completed in 1830. The monument was funded by the scientist and philosopher Stanisław Staszic as well as donations from the general public. Soon after the German occupation of Warsaw began in 1939, they placed a large plaque over the statue's pedestal, proclaiming Copernicus to have been German.... On 11th February 1942, a "minor sabotage" operation was carried out by Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski (code name "Alek"), a young Polish resistance fighter from the "Szare Szeregi" organisation, who removed and hid the German plaque. The Germans responded by removing the Jan Kiliński statue from Krasińskich Square and hiding it in the vaults of the National Museum. Dawidowski and his comrades in the Szare Szeregi retaliated by daubing the museum with graffiti which stated: "People of Warsaw - I am here - Jan Kiliński", and adding a new plaque to the Copernicus monument on which they had written the following words: "For the removal of the Kiliński statue I am extending winter by two months - Kopernik". The statue was damaged during the Warsaw Uprising, after which the Germans knocked it off its pedestal and subsequently stole it as they were evacuating Warsaw. It was later found in the town of Nysa, restored and replaced in its original location in 1949. In 2007 a representation of Copernicus' solar system, modelled after an image in his "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium", was embedded in the square in front of the monument. In 2017 a plaque commemorating Dawidowski's action was placed next to the monument. There are replicas of the Copernicus monument in Montreal and Chicago.

[dokuzadaiyuho]

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument

[an-inconvenient-life-blog]

Warsaw: May Day

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1st of May, is International Workers Day, so it is a major holiday here. It is closely followed by 3rd May – which is Constitution Day. That makes for one long weekend. I have heard that a lot of people head out of town for the week, but I decided to walk downtown anyway, to see the what was going on to celebrate the day.

Polish flags are flying…

[goodoldtimesesthetique]

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in Toruń, Poland, 1939

[gotocracow123]

trip to Krakow

Trip to Krakow

During your trip to Krakow you will see a city full of historic monuments preserved close to their original state, renovated - but not rebuilt - from ruins. One can even visit the chambers where Polish kings resided or rooms where Nicolaus Copernicus was educated - and for those interested in recent history, you could visit nearby Auschwitz to remember and honour those lost in the holocaust.

Entertainment

There are plenty of opportunities for parties or dining – the Old Town quarter of the city offers hundreds of restaurants, bars, clubs or street food options serving everything from delicious traditional Polish food to a rich diversity of international cusine.

While on a trip to Krakow there are so many other options for having a truly memoriable vacation – like shopping, sports, horseriding or even... sailing! The city is also home to elite sporting and entertainment facilities. During Euro 2012 the city was a base for the national teams of England, Netherlands and Italy, and the local Tauron Arena is a top Polish venue where some of the biggest international stars in music have entertained hundreds of thousands.

[jbeverywhere]

Myths about Poland and Poles

It’s time. Let me explain you some things. I hope this post will be a nice Polish culture lesson.

I asked some foreign friends what they think about Poland and Polish people, what had they thought before going there, how it was different at the end, etc. And also I added what I usually hear and drives me crazy 🤦‍

1. Temperature

Polish person: “It’s cold” ; Foreigner: “but you’re from Poland..”

And what? I’m Polish and I don’t feel cold? Aha. I think this is the most annoying answer which I hear a loooooot of times.

People have really bad image of Polish climate especially when they haven’t stayed there for longer time. So we have 4 seasons (+ 2 transitional ones).

early spring - March and April when the weather is going crazy. One day is snowing and -10⁰C, another day sunny and +15⁰C. You never know :D So if you go to Poland that time - be prepared for that, take different kind of clothes.

spring - May - first storms, during Juwenalia always rains, but the first week last years was really sunny and warm - perfect for Polish barbecue opening season :D

summer - may be hot as f.ck or colder and rainy. Many storms especially in August. Nights are much colder than days. But - surprise- temperature around 30⁰C is normal. And because the nights are colder you can sleep well - you won’t melt in your bed.

autumn - colder nights, leafs are brown, it may be really beautiful. More rainy days but still can be sunny.

early winter - October/November - crazy like early spring - may snow, may rain, may be sunny. You feel the winter in the air.

winter - yes it’s cold, but outside. Inside the buildings - it’s warm - surprise. For example I don’t have special pyjamas for winter nights because in my room is around 20⁰C. You go outside you put winter jacket and boots on. May be even -20⁰C (omg wow omg) but then you enter the house and t-shirt is enough. For example in Spain - I’m dying. Winter in Barcelona and in the flat for 3 months 12⁰C - IN THE FLAT. I opened the windows to put some warm air. In Valencia maybe not that drastic (probably it depends on the flat as well) but still I slept with 1 duvet, 2 blankets and the warmest pyjama ever xDDD So please, don’t tell that I’m from Poland and 12⁰C in the room should be perfect. Please.

So in Poland it’s like from minus extreme to plus extreme - variety! I think I like it, I just don’t like that the weather changes immediately. But the most important - inside the buildings - nooooo extreme. It’s pleasantly. So please don’t say to Poles that we should be used to the cold temperature. It’s personal not national thing, I love when is warm and I’m “more ok” with the summer in Valencia than Valencianos (they should be used to that hot no? XD exactly).

2. Music

“Omg la polaca knows reggaeton songs”

“OMG there is Polish reggaeton” 

Ok. Music is a difficult topic. But yyy yes, in Poland they use to play reggaeton (fortunately or unfortunately). For example - in Warsaw and Krakow there are clubs: Teatro Cubano - where there is only reggaeton and some latino rhythms. So if you love to dance to this kind of music, don’t worry, you will find a perfect club for you. 

I really like Polish music, especially now I think it’s really good one. But I like others as well, I have Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, even one German song in my playlists because - why not - variety! And reggaeton I like for the energy and dancing rhythms. Also I like it as a “culture”, for me it’s interesting and fascinating - I can talk about it hours! :D

3. The look

“Polish people are blond with blue eyes” XDDDD hehehehehehhehehehehehhehe

I’M NOT BLOND - first thing to note. The sun in Spain makes my hair lighter but still is not blond. In Poland there are different types of hair and skin. We are not so white. And blue eyes are not thaaaat common. Brown, green, blue, grey - but also not that brown like Spanish ;) AAAAAND - surprise - we can be tan! Wow! xD There are people who have really white skin and the sun changes it to red, but mostly Poles are tan in summer and even I would say that we love to be morenitos ;) What is funny for me (here we have the Spanish myth) that I’m more tan than many Spaniards. So let’s repair the myths: Poles may be tan in summer Spaniards are not tan at all (the Latinos yes - but also not always!).

4. Location

OK. It’s geographic lesson time.

What I heard once: “For me everything what is on the right from Germany is RUSSIA” omg. Where is my patience. omg. Please, think before saying shits like that. It hurts.

We are not that small in Europe. We have 7 neighbors, OWN language which is not Russian (it’s juuuust a liiiiittle bit similar, like some words). I can understand somehow Slovaks and Czechs but Russians - few words. AND IMPORTANT - we have Latin alphabet! Not Cyrillic like Russia. We are Slavic countries, our language is from Slavic family, Slavs love each other (in their way of love ;* ) but each of us is different and we exist, we are not Russia - note that in your head.

5. Religiousness

This is difficult topic. Yes, we are mostly Catholics and we don’t hide it. But not everybody. Many people are very religious - and I respect that. It’s kind of beauty, traditions and everything. It builds the culture. The problem appears when someone forces others to own rights. When religious is an argument in the politic world. And this I agree - in Poland we have a problem with that. But when you visit Poland don’t show your aversion to the religion. Respect it and be curious - then you can discover many nice things, interesting traditions and some kind of passion. I love to talk about our traditions and you can see it in my posts about Christmas and Easter.

6. Safety

This is more region problem than country problem. I mean, everywhere you go - you can meet bad people. In Kraków there were “bad times” but it was long time ago. When I was living there I felt really safe. Many times I came back alone and I’ve never had a strange/dangerous situation. And I always passed so many police during the night. So I think in big cities the government cares about the security. 

Just don’t enter any places where you can meet pseudo-fans of football and don’t scream any football team name. This I see still as a problem in Poland. But I don’s say that going to the matches is a bad idea.

7. Food

This I’m writing thanks to the opinions of those who visited Poland and tried Polish cuisine. So what I heard, that some Erasmus were afraid about the food, that it may be a bad quality and not tasty, but theeeen - surprise! - Where are you from? - from Poland - oooo soplica!!!! (ok, this is not food) - żurek! - pancakes - placki ziemniaczane! - PIEROOOOOGI <3 

So if you haven’t visited Poland yet, you haven't tried Polish cuisine - be prepared 😋😋😋

And you have me to ask before!

8. Language

Hehe Ok, it’s not the easiest language in the world. But it’s not an impossible one! So if you are planning to spend in Poland even only few days it’s nice to use: - dzień dobry - good morning - dziękuję - thank you - przepraszam - I’m sorry/excuse me - proszę - please/you’re welcome - do widzenia - goodbye - dobranoc - good night

Poles will appreciate a lot! We love when someone is trying to say something, and we know that it’s not easy. 

And! I know some people who stayed to live in Poland and their Polish is - wow! So as you see, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE ;)

9. Character

Hmmm I heard that some of you were afraid that Poles won’t be friendly but then again surprise. Well, I think we are nice people xD We are for sure hospitable. There is always a bottle of vodka and some cookies for a casual visit.

English is not our native language, more and more people can speak it but still not all (well like in other countries). But we won’t leave you without helping you when you ask. Gesticulating, speaking slower and louder (because this changes everything xD) - there is always a way to communicate and express yourself. 

So smile and don’t be afraid of us, especially me, I don’t bite! :D

Meme to sum up

10. Famous Poles

I think you may know many but even you don’t realize that. So let me remind you or introduce you Poles who have changed the world.

- Robert Lewandowski - football player in Bayern Monachium

- Jakub Błaszczykowski - was a football player in Borussia Dortmund

- Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) - Heliocentrism, stopped the sun, moved the Earth ;)

- Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin - composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era

- Marie Skłodowska Curie - (note: her first surname is Polish. And in many places they skip it -.-) - physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and the only woman to win the Nobel prize twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields

- Tadeusz Kościuszko - military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States.

- Pope John Paul II - Karol Wojtyła - the first non-Italian pope since the 16th-century, the second longest-serving pope in modern history, one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. Etc, etc. We are really proud of him and you can see that - everywhere there is his name, a looot of monuments etc.

- Lech Wałęsa - statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served as the first democratically-elected President of Poland.

- Andrzej Wajda - film and theater director. Recipient of an Honorary Oscar, the Palme d'Or, as well as Honorary Golden Lion and Honorary Golden Bear Awards.

- Roman Polański - film director, producer, writer, and actor. There was a quite big scandal with him - no comment.

- Robert Kubica - he became the first and only Polish driver to compete in Formula One.

- Anja Rubik - supermodel, activist, philanthropist, and businesswoman.

- Adam Małysz - former ski jumper and rally driver, one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport.

- Wisława Szymborska - poet, essayist, translator and recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature.

- Robert Korzeniowski - the best walker in the world, he won 4 gold medals at the Olympics (Atlanta, Sydney and Athens).

- Izabella Scorupco - actress, singer, and model. She is perhaps best known for having played Bond girl Natalya Simonova in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. 

- Justyna (Justi, JB) Biel - Polish butterfly with Latin blood, author of this (and the other) blog. Known by you, one day by others as well.   

and much much more!

11. Alcohol

Yes, I know, I shouldn’t forget about the most important - vodka. Yes we drink it, yes, on the parties, birthdays, etc. Yes, shots. We drink shot of vodka and then one/two/many sips of juice/coke/water/etc.

But come on, I don’t get why it horrifies you. Like vodka is 40%, rum, whisky, gin - all which you drink is also 40% and for me has even worse taste (especially gin, uff please don’t offer me that, never). Or tequila! Madre mía.

We don’t drink vodka with the dinner, like many people do with wine. Wine is also kind of alcohol I would like to remind.

And yes, we love beer a lot. And normal glass of beer is 0.5l - we don’t have smaller ones.

So, I hope... since now when I ask you to drink vodka on the before party - please, don’t be afraid and drink it with me, I’ll appreciate it! 

Ok. I think that’s all. I hope that since now your image of Poles and Poland is much better - the correct one. Here you have everything in one picture xDD

[shinythinx]

Here's a quick summer-up of what happened in Poland last night via facebook page Koalicja Antyfaszystowska

⁉️What happened yesterday⁉️

1️⃣ Friday, 7th of August. Just after 4pm the court upheld the prosecution’s complaint and ruled two months of arrest for Margo from Stop Bzdurom. The arrest referred to the allegations of damaging a homophobic van of the Pro Prawo do życia (pro-life) foundation.

2️⃣ At that time, Margo stayed in the headquarters of KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia). Dozens of people showed up even before the police arrived at the headquarters. Margo and her closest ones waited inside, talked to the crowd and played uplifting songs. We chanted about solidarity, that if they stop one of us, thousands will show up in response.

3️⃣ . Around 6:30 PM Margo decided to let herself be arrested. Not without complications: the officers stated that they did not in fact have a reason to arrest her. Margo asked if wearing a shirt with Jesus Christ and holding a pride flag at the same time was not a big enough reason.

4️⃣ The situation was bizzare: the police claimed that they are only here as a result of an illegal gathering. And so all of us decided to move towards the infamous monument by Krakowskie Przedmieście. Over 200 people walked through Solec and Tamka singing and chanting. Margo, through a megaphone, talked about this being the unofficial 2020 Pride March.

5️⃣ We made it to Krakowskie Przedmieście just after 7PM. There, Margo said goodbye to everyone and walked towards the statue of Jesus. She was immediately captured by the police and put in an unmarked car waiting for her. The remaining officers surrounded the car.

6️⃣ The protesters sat around the car and demanded the release of Margo. Our blockade lasted for over an hour. Meanwhile, some protesters hung pride flags at the Nicolaus Copernicus statue. People shouted and chanted.

7️⃣ Around 8 o’clock, more forces joined the police and attempted to break up the barrier around the car. Simultaneously, plain-clothed officers entered the crowd and began to push people around. One person got pushed down onto the pavement. The car left in the direction of Plac Zamkowy. Margo was transferred to the police station at Nowolipie.

8️⃣ There was NO warnings nor calls for the crowd to disperse. The police began to push the protesters and arrest randomly some of them. They were pinning the activists to the ground with their knees.

A radio Zet reporter got beaten and pushed to the ground, MPs Magdalena Filiks and Maciej Gdula got hit. MP Klaudia Jahira found herself in the middle of a violent turmoil involving police officers attempting to snatch a female protester.

9️⃣ Around 8:40 police blocked off Krakowskie Przedmieście in the direction of Królewska.

Right after 9, the police drove into the already diffusing crowd. They caught people who were passing by and they arrested people in the metro station. More and more people were arrested and put in police cars. Just in the Krakowskie Przedmiescie area a dozen people were arrested.

🔟 10 minutes later, around 9:20, people gathered in a solidarity protest in front of the Wilcza police station. Similar demonstrations took place at Zakroczymska, Mostwoski Palace and Nowolipie.

At Wilcza, several dozen people kept the spirits up for over an hour by chanting and playing instruments.

An hour later, three police vans showed up. Officers called the demo to diffuse. 10 people were arrested.

We will dedicate a separate post to describe all that happened that night. The arrested were transported from one police station to another, they are currently in a dozen of police stations around the city. Some people got 24 hour court cases.

But before we get into this:

What happened yesterday was an attempt to scare all those who are ready to fight for their rights. Who know solidarity and that nothing can be achieved without it.

✊ We won’t be intimidated by a government that wants to discipline and divide us, that shows that repression awaits all fighting in solidarity.

If you can, please contribute to the bailout found: stopbzdurom.pl/zrzutka

[dato-georgia-caucasus]

Фотохромныe открытки Российской Империи в конце 19-го - в начале 20-го века - Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Warsaw, Poland

[blueiscoool]

Dozens of Unique Bronze Ornaments Discovered in Poland

Numerous bronze ornaments have been discovered in Poland’s Chełmno region (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship).

Archaeologists report that dozens of bronze ornaments, including necklaces, bracelets, greaves, decorative pins, and numerous human bones, were discovered. Scientists believe these are most likely objects used in sacrificial rituals 2,500 years ago.

People threw these treasures into a lake around 2500 years ago. Today, however, the site is a  drained peat bog that has been converted to farmland.

The discovery was made by members of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Group of History Seekers (Kujawsko-Pomorskiej Grupy Poszukiwaczy Historii), who conducted searches using metal detectors.

Once metal detectors discovered something of value was hidden at the site, excavations led by Wojciech Sosnowski at the WUOZ in Toruń began in January. They were attended by researchers from the Institute of Archeology of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and the services of the Wdecki Landscape Park.

As a result of the plowing, many ancient objects were found scattered loosely on the ground. Scientists discovered three deposits filled with whole or damaged ornaments and bronze items used in all likelihood for ceremonial purposes. The research team recovered necklaces, bracelets, greaves, horse harnesses, and pins with spiral heads.

The discovery of rare organic raw material artifacts like rope fragments and fabrics of antler tools in bronze sheet frames delighted archaeologists. It is unusual to find organic raw materials that have remained well-preserved in such wet conditions.

Most of the monuments, according to the researchers, should be associated with representatives of the Lusatian culture community.

The Lusatian culture was widespread in the Bronze Age and early Iron Age (12th–4th century BC) in the Oder River and Vistula River basins, and extended east to the Buh River. The name is derived from the Sorbian region of Lusatia (Lausitz), now in eastern Germany, where monuments of the culture were first discovered and studied.

Some items, however, are not indigenous to this region and should be correlated with the Scythian civilization and its influences from the region of present-day Ukraine.

Numerous human bones were discovered by scientists among dozens of other artifacts, which supports the theory that this was a location where people and objects were sacrificed.

The research team explained that it was a time of increasing unrest related to the penetration into Central and Eastern Europe of groups of nomads from the Pontic Steppe. Local communities found themselves on the threshold of sudden changes. To postpone the rapid changes associated with the appearance of new neighbors, locals began to practice various rituals, including sacrifices.

Archaeologists have not revealed the exact location of the discovery for security reasons. At the same time, they plan further research within the dried-up lake.

By Leman Altuntaş,

[petrick18]

Krakow on a budget

Hey guys, if you’re looking for a beautiful city that won’t hurt the bank, search no more, Krakow is a charming medieval city with loads of history. I would say it’s a cheap city to have an adventure but it’s definitely not a “cheap city” as the quality of the trip I had was great! Here are few tricks to get around Krakow on a shoestring.

1. Auschwitz

My trip to Krakow has been amazing and depressing at the same time. It made me feel human again. It is necessary to visit the Auschwitz Memorial, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, to remind us that such hatred and cruelty should never happen again. I booked my tour with Viator and it was a round trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau for only £30. Included are: transport in a van (max 8 passengers), pick up/drop off at Krakow city centre, entrance fees, guided tour. Our driver Majiek was very friendly, made the trip back and forth less sad. I highly suggest you purchase this so you don’t have to waste time waiting for buses and chances are they’re full so you have to queue longer. The tour lasted 7 hours.

2. Wielickza Salt Mine

From one UNESCO World Heritage Site to another, the salt mine in Wielickza is an impressive one! Google Maps doesn’t really work in Krakow so commuting is a bit difficult. Good thing my friend suggested this website. It is also quite challenging to find the bus stop going to Wielickza so here’s a pro tip: west of Galeria Krakowska is Pawia Street, ride bus 304 located on Ogrodowa Street. Bus ride costs £2 return, plus travel time is 45 minutes each way. Wieliczka is one of the oldest salt mines in operation in the world. I am not claustrophobic but when I stepped inside and made my way 300 metres below ground, I must admit I felt a bit scared. It was replaced by amusement afterwards with the fascinating stories of the history of the mine and extraordinary sculpture and architecture made of salt. I have no plans of marrying someone but when I saw the Chapel of St. Kinga inside the mine, I was so blown away, I want my wedding venue to be there haha! I paid £15 with my student ID card (usual price is £20), it was so worth it! The down side is there’s no decent waiting area so if you’re there in winter, you’ll be freezing in line. The tour was 3 hours long and Evelyn, our guide was very witty with her commentaries, never had I LOL so much on a tour xD

3. Krakow Old Town

Marcin and I finally met in front of St. Mary’s Basilica, a beautiful brick Gothic church that dates back 13th century. I told him that it’s not the most grand or imposing piece of architecture I have seen but there is something about it that makes me drawn to it. We went to one of the afternoon tours offered by Krakow Explorers. It is a free walking tour and I must say the guides Eugene and Bartek were very knowledgeable about the city’s history, telling us compelling stories that make Krakow interesting and one of a kind. We booked 2 tours that day, a two hour walk of the Old Town and Sin City. Highlights of the Old Town tour are:  St. Mary's Basilica (watch out for the hourly bugle call and wave back as he says hi!), Juliusz Słowacki Theater, the Barbican, St. Florian's Gate, Main Market Square (where public executions were done during Middle Ages and a form of entertainment back then), Cloth Hall, Medieval Town Hall, Collegium Maius (the alma mater of Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope John Paul II) , Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral.

Wawel Cathedral is a fun one, it’s the perfect example of harmony in diversity. There were three major constructions in 11th, 12th and 14th century after the first two were partially destroyed. The result was a splendid combination of Gothic and Renaissance carchitecture.

4. Jewish Quarter

Another day, another tour. My Polish friend and I booked another walking tour of Krakow Explorers and this time our guide was Dima. Jewish Quarter aka Kazimierz District is a good 15 minute stroll from the city centre. Highlights include: Old Synagogue, Holocaust Memorial, Jewish Cemetery, a film location in Schindler’s List, Jewish Ghetto, Heroes of Ghetto Square and Bridge of Love.

One of the few photos I have from the Jewish Quarter, the one above is Corpus Christi Basilica. Completed in 15th century, I’ve been told you need to wear shades inside the church as bright golden light will blind you on a sunny day.

Tales from Krakow

This is my favourite corner of Krakow, the lane of Unfaithful Thomas.

You have to go up in one of the towers of St. Mary’s Basilica to see this magnificent view of the the largest medieval square in Europe, Rynek Glowny aka Main Market Square. From the top you could see the monument of Adam Mickiewicz- the greatest Polish Romantic poet, Cloth Hall and Medieval Town Hall.

5. Travel to Warsaw

Seriously, I wouldn’t know what to do in the city if Marcin did not help me out. He even booked my ticket for my train to Krakow, the trip costs £30 one way for a two hour ride. Things not to miss when in Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science, Old Town and Warsaw Rising Museum.

The charming Old Town in Warsaw.

Marcin and I at St. Florian’s Gate. If I were to compare Krakow and Warsaw, Krakow wins my heart by million miles but I think it’s a bit unfair since I only stayed in Warsaw for 10 hours. Overall, I would rate my trip pretty good as Krakow captured me by it’s irresistible charm and if you ask me, I would go back again, this time, visiting Zakopane. For great Polish cuisine, the city never disappoints with it’s mouthwatering dishes, I would suggest places to eat but I guess this blog is not really for that. To my Polish friend Marcin, dziękuję! I had a blast just like we did in Nice, good luck on your master’s/thesis. Couldn’t thank you enough for all the help, until we meet again :D

[phooll123]

New top story from Time: #PolishStonewall: LGBTQ Activists Are Rallying Together After Police Violence at Protests in Warsaw

As LGBTQ activist Malgorzata Szutowicz, sits in solitary confinement for a fourth day in the city of Plock, central Poland, hundreds of people across the country are protesting in her name. On Friday, Margo, as she is more commonly known, was placed in pre-trial detention for two months, on charges of assaulting a driver of a truck that displayed an anti-LGBT banner.

The same day, hundreds of people gathered in the capital, Warsaw, to defend her freedom. In doing so, they were risking their own: 48 protestors were detained and many more injured in what experts say was an unprecedented level of police aggression against an LGBTQ demonstration, particularly in a European Union member state.

By Saturday, thousands had gathered in Warsaw to denounce Margo’s arrest and police aggression against LGBTQ people. And although Poland is experiencing a rise in new cases of COVID-19, at least 15 solidarity protests, both big and small, took place on Monday in towns and cities across the Poland, as well as in Budapest and London, New York, Paris and Berlin, with more planned.

While not all activists may agree with Margo’s methods, her prosecution and imprisonment has been widely condemned. “These radical actions are a part of history that has happened in many other countries before,” says Julia Maciocha, chairwoman at the Warsaw-based LGBTQ organization Volunteers of Equality Foundation. In a nod to the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in New York City, several users on Twitter started posting #PolishStonewall in tweets about the weekend’s events and subsequent solidarity protests.

What’s the state of LGBTQ rights under Polish President Andrzej Duda?

The weekend protests come amid intensifying anti-LGBTQ rhetoric by government officials and state media after the recent re-election of President Andrzej Duda. On Aug. 6, the anti-E.U. populist leader was sworn in for a second five-year term as president on a strong anti-LGBTQ platform, branding LGBTQ rights an “ideology” worse than communism and proposing a “Family Charter,” including a vow to block legislation allowing gay couples to get married or adopt children. The charter also included a ban on “the propogation of LGBTQ ideology in schools and public institutions,” reminiscent of Russia’s notorious ‘gay propaganda law’ in 2013. Such moves pave the way for “verbal and physical attacks against” the LGBTQ community, says Hanna-Gill Piatek, a lawmaker from a pro-E.U. political party, Spring. Adam Bodnar, the Polish Human Rights Commissioner, agrees, saying that “to a great extent, LGBT persons are becoming victims of political life.”

For over a year, the government and religious leaders have used LGBTQ people as a “scapegoat,” says Mirosława Makuchowska, head of the Warsaw-based Stop Homophobia Campaign. The Duda-allied Law and Justice party (PiS), which has led Poland since 2015, has consistently railed against the LGBTQ community, presenting its members as a threat to family values. (Anti-LGBTQ attacks are not considered a hate crime by law in Poland.)

The church in Poland also wields enormous influence over education, law and politics, and about 86% of the population identify as Roman Catholic. Marek Jedraszewski, an archbishop, warned last year that a “rainbow plague” seeks to “control” the population. Since 2019, authorities in one-third of cities across Poland have adopted resolutions declaring themselves “LGBTQ ideology free zones.” In late July, the European Union announced it would not provide funding to six Polish towns that made this declaration.

Rafal Milach—Magnum PhotosProtestors sit in front of police on in Warsaw, Poland Aug. 7, 2020.

What sparked the protests?

On July 14, Margo, who is a member of the LBTQ activist group Stop Bzdurom (Stop Bullshit), was arrested in Warsaw and accused of assaulting the driver of a truck promoting anti-LGBT propaganda and blaring slurs from loudspeakers, as well as of damaging the vehicle on June 27. She was detained overnight and released.

On Aug. 3, police again arrested Margo, along with other activists, for taking part in a campaign that covered monuments in Warsaw with rainbow flags. Authorities accused them of “insulting religious feelings and insulting Warsaw monuments.”

Four days later, on Friday, a court ordered Margo to be placed in pre-trial detention for two months. When the court order came through, she was seeking legal counsel at the headquarters of a local organization, Campaign Against Homophobia. Although Margo gave herself up to the police, they did not arrest her. From the campaign headquarters, Margo and other activists and protesters then headed to Krakowskie Przedmieście, one of the central streets in Warsaw, where the Monument of Christ had been covered with a rainbow flag a week earlier, in response to the E.U.’s announcement that it was blocking funds to the six Polish towns that declared themselves “LGBT-free zones.”

Witnesses say that police officers in an unmarked police car then detained Margo with excessive use of force. “This was the last straw,” says LGBTQ rights activist Zośka Marcinek, who tried to prevent the car from leaving the scene. “Not only the charges and arrest were farcical, not only it was obvious Margot is being targeted as a nonbinary/transgender person, it was also cowardly and brutal,” she says.

What happened at the protests?

Hundreds of protesters were gathered at Krakowskie Przedmieście when Margo was detained at the scene. What started as a peaceful, spontaneous protest soon escalated into violence, as police started removing people violently from the site. Protesters—some just walking by or standing on the side-walk—were pushed against walls and thrown to the ground by police, activists say. Police made a lot of “mistakes” says Bodnar, whose team was able to access the 33 out of the 48 detained protestors on Saturday when all other visitors were barred. Bodnar says some people were wrongly detained—“one person was just observing the protests, another was on a shopping trip.”

Marcinek tells TIME that a uniformed policeman tripped her over, causing her to hit the back of her head on the pavement, before an officer then held her in a chokehold. She was arrested and taken into custody, and says police taunted her with homophobic slurs. Despite suffering from a concussion, she says she was denied medical assistance for around eight hours. Makuchowska, the head of the Warsaw-based Stop Homophobia Campaign, says police pushed her to the ground, leaving her with a bruised back.

On Twitter, Warsaw’s police force said 48 people were detained in connection with insulting a policeman and damage to a police car, and that the police had called for “legal behavior” during the protests. A report by the Polish Commissioner found that many people were interrogated at night with no access to legal aid, food or drink and that several detainees had visible body injuries as a result of police brutality. Piatek says that police blocked lawyers from contacting some detainees for hours. Several left-wing politicians, who intervened at the police stations, were also denied the right to information, she says.

Bodnar says that he wouldn’t compare this situation with previous LGBTQ demonstrations, which were planned Pride events and marches. But he notes an “unequal approach by the police,” referring to the lack of police response to marches led by nationalist groups—even when such marches could be seen as promoting aggression, like burning an LGBTQ flag. In his view, the police’s reaction to demonstrations depends on whether a certain group is “liked by the authorities or not.”

Rafal Milach—Magnum PhotosThe Nicolaus Copernicus monument is decorated with a rainbow flag.

What happens next?

Now, Poland’s LGBTQ community is bracing itself for what’s next. While those detained over the weekend have now been released from custody, activists say many of them will likely end up in court on charges of illegal gathering. In Polish law, this is defined as a riot in which participants jointly commit a violent assault on a person or property — a provision “only used when a crowd is calling for violent actions,” says Bodnar. But the weekend’s events “were not like this,” he says.

Nevertheless, he—like many others—is finding hope in the solidarity the LGBTQ community has received after the weekend’s protests. What made these protests “different” and “impressive,” he says, was the way politicians and lawyers rallied in support. At least eight politicians were present at police stations where protestors were detained, he says, while lawyers volunteered to defend them. “Polish authorities didn’t predict that putting Margo in detention would cause such powerful protests by the LGBTQ community and that those protests would be supported by opposition politicians and pro bono lawyers,” Bodnar says.

As well as solidarity protests, Poland’s LGBTQ community is rallying together to provide legal help and psychological support for the 48 people who have been detained. The Campaign Against Homophobia has been recruiting pro bono legal help for people who have been detained, and an LGBTQ-organized fund for psychological help has raised 20,000 Polish złoty ($5,345).

But what happens next for Margo remains uncertain and she is still waiting to access a lawyer while in solitary confinement. On the outside, Marcinek, the protester, tells TIME that policemen are randomly visiting and searching the homes of others who had been detained during the protests without warning or justification. And the broader future for LGBTQ rights in Poland is unclear. “Living in Poland, you can’t predict the future,” says Maciocha, head of the Volunteers of Equality Foundation.

What activists want now is stronger international solidarity, particularly from European governments. Remy Bonny, a Brussels-based LGBTQ rights activist and researcher who focuses on Central and Eastern Europe, says “we have seen this kind of violence in Russia and Belarus, for example, but not in an E.U. country.” The European Commission should condemn police violence in Poland in the same way it recently denounced the repression of protests in Belarus, he says. Makuchowska says she and other activists are calling on the international community to “help us to immediately release Margo.”

Despite the recent political campaign against LGBTQ people, activists say they feel that support for this community is growing and that more people who were once silent on LGBTQ rights issues are now compelled to speak out on social media or attend solidarity protests. “The community feels stronger in the end,” Makuchowska says. “We are determined to protect ourselves. The feeling is that we are strong.”

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[otalpsetarcos]

Copernicus and I ☀️ Nicolaus Copernicus, an astronomer and mathematical genius famous for Heliocentrism, Quantity theory of money, and Gresham–Copernicus law. #travelselfie #warsaw 🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱 #travelmemories #instatravel #instagood #instamoment #igtravel #travelingram #traveling #travel #traveler #wanderer #wanderlust #europeexplorer #europeantour #europe_vacations #europa #europe #poland #followforfollowback #follow4followback #followtofollow #follow2follow #followmefollowyou #followbackinstantly #instafollowback #instafollow #pinoylakwatsero #pinoyexplorer #FilipinoTraveler (at Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Warsaw) https://www.instagram.com/p/Buowo93DHsB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=84wrwd8691s6

[negativejon]

at Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Warsaw https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsqsht8lpsj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s51nv579hni1