Lukashenko presented with replica of battle sword from the time of Polotsk Prince Vseslav the Magician at Dazhynki fair in Polotsk
Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Aleksandr Subbotin has presented President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko with a loaf from the Vitebsk Region grain growers and a replica of a military sword from the time of Polotsk Prince Vseslav the Magician at the Dazhynki regional festival-fair in Polotsk
A replica of the battle sword was presented on the skin of a wolf as a symbol of power and courage. The sword was created using only technologies typical of the Middle Ages: blacksmithing welding, forging, embossing, bluing, bronze inlay.
As is known, of all the representatives of the Polotsk princely dynasty, the greatest ruler was Vseslav Bryachislavovich, who ruled in 1044-1101. He was called the Magician because of his political wisdom and ability to win in the most difficult circumstances. Under him, the Polotsk Principality reached its highest power. According to legend, the prince could turn into a wolf, considered by the Slavs to be the patron saint of warriors, in order to inspect and protect his possessions from enemies. The sword has always been a symbol not only of power and military might, but also of defence of the inhabitants of the principality from enemies. Therefore, this weapon has historically been widely used on the emblems of various power structures. The skin of a wolf was used as an element of the warriors’ clothing. Vseslav the Magician himself is always depicted in art and literary works with a wolf skin. This is how he appears on the monument in Polotsk.
