Wanda Mound

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 50°04′13″N 20°04′05″E / 50.07028, 20.06806

Wanda's Mound
Wanda's Mound
Monument atop the mound
Monument atop the mound

Wanda Mound (Polish: Kopiec Wandy} is is a tumulus located in Mogiła, since 1949 a neighbourhood of Cracow, Poland. It is supposed to be the the grave of the legendary princess Wanda. According to one version of the story, she committed suicide by drowning in the Vistula to avoid unwanted marriage, and the mound is located close to the spot on the river bank where her body was found. Archaeological studies conducted in 1913 and in mid-1960 did not provide any conclusive evidence of the mound age or purpose.

The mound base, some 50 metres (164 ft) in diameter, is at 238 metres (781 ft) AMSL and its height is 14 metres (46 ft). Unlike the other three Cracow's mounds, this one is not located on a natural hill.

The first written record of the mound comes from the 13th century. In 1860 it became a part of Austro-Hungarian fortifications, pulled down only in 1968-1970. In 1890 a monument designed by Jan Matejko was erected at the top: an eagle on a plinth decorated with a relief of a sword and a distaff, and the inscription 'Wanda'.

[edit] See also

Languages