Time Travels to the Early Middle Ages (Pt. I)

Time Travels to the Early Middle Ages

Part I

The photos presented below were taken in 2011 and 2012 during the various early medieval re-enactment events in Poland. In these photos, are showed different recreations of the early medieval battles, craftsmanships, pre-Christian rituals and daily activities.

2011

photo Photography Re-enactment viking Slavic early medieval early middle ages battle fight

Ready to the Battle | Midgard Battle | Kosmaty Borek | 9 April 2011

Midgard is a re-enactment event which is organised twice a year in Poland in various places. During this event are three battles of re-enactment groups. One group trying to protect a stronghold (Pol. gród) whereas others re-enactors struggling to conquer it.

A Storm is Coming | Rękawka Festival | Kraków | 26 April 2011

Rękawka Festival is an event which is yearly organised in Kraków (Poland). It takes place always on the first Tuesday after Easter. During this festival, are presented reconstructions of the Slavic pre-Christian rituals as well as a battle between various re-enactment groups from southern Poland.

Attack of the Witch | Rękawka Festival | Kraków | 26 April 2011

Before the battle, took place augury in the form of a simulated duel between two witches. Each of them represented the opposite sites of the battle – defenders of stronghold and invaders. The victory of one of the witches forecasted the victory of the one side in the battle.

Reconstruction of an Augury with Huge Wheat Cake | Rękawka Festival | Kraków | 26 April 2011

In the photos is presented a reconstruction of augury with a huge wheat cake. Based on the description included in Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum (Book XIV, chapter 39) this augury could take place in the Rugen island (current Germany).According to this description, during a feast people gathered in front of the Svantovit temple. There the highest priests placed a huge wheat cake which was almost human size. Then, the high priest has stood behind this cake and ask all the people if they saw him. They have answered him, that they saw him. Then, the high priest said that in the next year would better that you would not saw me. What means, that in following year harvest should be more bountiful.

Life in the Camp | 3rd Wolf Trail | Kalwaria Pacławska | 16 July 2011

Wilczy Trop (Eng. Wolf Trail) is a non-commercial early medieval re-enactment event which was organised near Kalwaria Pacławska (Poland). During this event, took place craftsmanship workshops, reconstructions of the early medieval weddings, battles and tournaments.

The Night Guard | 3rd Wolf Trail | Kalwaria Pacławska | 14 July 2011

Harbour in the Sunset | 17th Slavs and Vikings Festival | Wolin | 5 August 2011

The Slavs and Vikings Festival in Wolin (Poland) is one of the biggest early medieval re-enactment events in Europe. In this festival, people from numerous countries take part. During the Slavs and Vikings Festival take place inter alia craftwork workshops, music concerts, battles on boats, reconstructions of pre-Christian rituals and finally the three great battles (in which fight about 400 warriors).