DEFEATING A DRAGON FOR THE WAVEL HILL

-text and photos Andrei Dorian Gheorghe
design Florin Alexandru Stancu-

The first Polish state was founded by Miesko I,
and then his son Boleslav I the Brave transformed it into a kingdom (1025),
the two leaders being also those who introduced Christianity to Poland,
today the largest Catholic East-European country.

Since 1038 the Capital of Poland became Krakow,
which, after a legend, had been founded in the 7th century
by the brave hero Krakus,
who had defeated a dragon at the foot of the Wavel Hill,
on the bank of the Vistula River.

Then the city of Krakus has developed on and around that hill,
on which in the 11th century a Royal Cathedral was founded
(it was rebuilt a few times, becoming for a few centuries
the site for the coronation of the Kings of Poland)
and in the 14th century a Royal Castle.

Thus the Wavel Hill has remained
“the most prominent place” in Polish history.

I visited the Wavel Hill two times,
in September 2002 and in July 2015
(fortunately, during the second time I was armed with a camera)
and I’d like to add two things.

From an astronomical point of view,
the Wavel Cathedral has on its main tower
a golden sun cross
and a clock
with an artistic sun in its centre
and an artistic moon on its hand.

And from a poetic point of view,
the Polish national poet Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855)
was also buried in the Wavel Cathedral, among so many Kings,
being originally recognized by his co-nationals as
the King of Poetry and Patriotism.

At Krakow’s Castle,
Near the Cathedral,
I truly felt high,
I really felt astral.

Certainly, I’m not a hero,
I just watch meteors sometimes,
So only the Sun could make
Me defeat a dragon-snake.