Mysterious Sword
Let us take a closer look at this rare blade. It was forged of iron in the Roman Empire almost 1,800 years ago. How do we know that? The part of the sword shown in the photo above contains a subtle clue for researchers. You can see two human figures, apparently of different colour. They were made using the incrustation technique. In this technique, a thin plate or wire made of one metal is sunk into a recesses within another metal which works as a base. It was not an easy thing to do. That is why only extremely valuable items were decorated in this way. Such embellishments often conveyed some symbolic meaning. It is also the case in this blade. The two figures made of copper are ancient mythological deities: Mars and Victoria.
Mars is the god of war, and Victoria is the goddess of victory. Their effigies on the sword served a hidden purpose: they were to support the wielder in combat. In the period of origin of this artefact, many people would place trust in the assistance of these supreme beings, which is why extraordinary swords like this were exported to all parts of Europe. The one in the picture was found by archaeologists in the locality of Podlodów, east Poland. Similar ones were discovered in Illerup, Denmark, or in Veldre, Norway. As a matter in fact, an impressive number of such blades were spotted in Poland and Scandinavia!
Deep dive into the history
The sword from Podlodów was found by accident during field work in 1959. It was donated to a museum. This type of blade was popular among heavily armed Roman warriors. Such a weaponry find in Poland proves that ancient Romans would get in touch with peoples living far from the limes of the empire. It is possible that this unique weapon belonged to a warrior who was ranked among the highest social class of one of the Germanic tribes dwelling in the Lublin region in the early centuries AD.
Interestingly, the sword was not found in one piece but in four, almost equal parts. It may come as a surprise but it did not disintegrate due to age. It was broken on purpose when it was still usable. So, you may wonder why such a valuable and rare item was damaged.
This can be explained by the fact that a sword was an extremely important item for a warrior, often customized and made to order. Unfortunately, even the protection of deities did not help some combatants survive military campaigns. When a warrior fell, his military accessories were often buried with him. It is also likely that the destruction of weaponry had a symbolic significance, i.e. blades might have been destroyed for religious purposes during special rituals.
Our gallery of items has yet another destroyed sword, but one that they did not manage to break completely! Can you find it? What animal does it resemble in its current shape?
Below are some ideas of tasks that will help you learn more about the object.
Feel free to read more about the history and significance of Mars and Victoria for ancient people.
Task 1:
Draw a comic book telling a story of the sword decorated with the images of Mars and Victoria
How come that such swords reached Poland and Scandinavia?
Write a comic book plot on how the blade made it to Poland or Norway. You can use our template or draw your own!
Tips:
Think about the different ways in which the sword could have reached today’s Poland or Norway: trade, warfare, a gift from a foreign ruler?
Carefully design the narrative of the comic book. Decide whether you want it to rely upon real historical facts or wish to come up with your own version of history.
Add dialogues and captions to help readers understand the historical context and the history of the sword.
You can work on your own or with someone else.
Task 2:
Connect the dots
As you already know, several swords with similar divine images have been found. However, each of them was in a way unique. An exceptionally beautiful image of Victoria can be seen on a sword found in Øvre Stabu, Norway.
Connect the dots to see what she looked like!
Task 3:
Feel like a god or goddess!
Imagine that you are a god or goddess of victory. What would be your attributes? What items would you possess symbolizing victory? What clothes would you wear? Draw your deity!
Next, you will use a free online tool to breathe life into your character. You will perform a simple animation.
You can also use the drawing of Mars and Victoria from the Podlotów blade to try out the application.
Step by step guidance
1. Draw the character only. Leave the background white.
2. Take a photo of your drawing and upload it to the application at https://sketch.metademolab.com/canvas.
3. Have fun animating your character! You can download the animation and share it with your friends.
Mythological heroes:
Mars and Victoria
If you have not studied Roman mythology yet, you will get to know it soon! It is known all over the world (or at least across Europe). Roman mythology is the collection of myths, legends, and religious beliefs that used to form part of the culture and religion of ancient Rome. As was the case with other ancient cultures, Roman mythology covered narratives about male and female deities and heroes. The myths recount their actions, mutual relations, and impact on the world and people. They also try to explain many phenomena that occurred in people’s everyday life.
Mars and Victoria are two central figures from Roman mythology. They were closely associated with the culture and history of ancient Rome. Their worship had a profound impact on ancient Romans’ everyday lives. It influenced their values, traditions, and thinking about power and triumph.
Mars: the power of war and gallantry
In ancient Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, a symbol of power, courage, and military might. He was considered the protector of Rome and its people. He embodies courage and determination in the face of adversities. He was revered by legionnaires (Roman warriors) as their patron. They honoured him before combat to have a share in his power and obtain his support. Mars was an incarnation of the military spirit of the Romans and their ability to overcome hurdles through determination and strategic thinking. Mars would often be depicted with armour, helmet, shield, and spear as military attributes. They highlighted his role as the guardian of Rome and indicated his military nature. The worship of Mars also pointed to the military values that ancient Romans held dear: honour, discipline, and loyalty to the state.
Victoria: triumph and victory
Victoria was the goddess of victory, epitomizing triumph and success. Her attributes are wings, a laurel wreath, and a palm branch. They highlighted her triumphant nature. Usually depicting her as a winged woman, ancient artists emphasized her victorious posture and ability to carry victors to glory. Victoria was the deified personification of triumph. The Roman people considered it the prerequisite for their military and political success
Victoria’s images would often be stamped on coins, monuments, and other public sites as a symbol of victory and prosperity. They were intended to provide an incentive to strive for success and achievement in all areas of life, not only in war, but also in politics, sports, and art.