One Sword out of Thousand

By Robert Fudali

 The story of the sword from the “Thousand Swords” session disappearing goes back to the days when, together with the Viking and Slavic warrior group “Ślężanie,” to which I belonged for several years, we took part in various archaeological and historical festivals. One of them was the famous Biskupin festival in 1997. Those were completely different times, we lived that world fully and authentically. Training sessions, journeys, camps, weapons, recreating ancient traditions and warrior crafts were part of everyday life, not just some weekend hobby.

After returning from Biskupin, my sword remained in the car of Thy Worshiper guitarist “Juby.” I was supposed to collect it later, once we found time to meet again. Juby was also a member of the “Ślężanie” group and regularly participated in our training sessions. He helped us a lot by giving us access to his father’s workshop, where we forged and crafted our own swords, knives, and daggers. We traveled together on many expeditions in his old Volkswagen van. In the basement of his house, where Thy Worshiper had their rehearsal room, Graveland held some of its very first rehearsals as well.

I trusted him completely, so I was never worried that the sword stayed with him for such a long time after we came back from the festival. After a few months, however, all contact with him suddenly disappeared. Around half a year later, I learned that Juby had died. I think he was probably the first close friend I lost at such a young age. At that age, death still feels distant and unreal, so the news hit me very hard.

After his death, the sword was never recovered. Nobody knew where he had hidden it or what had happened to it. Perhaps it still lies forgotten somewhere among old relics from those years. The truth is that I never tried to search for it aggressively. I did not want to intrude on his family during such a difficult time or come to them asking questions about an old sword. And that is how the story of the weapon used during the “Thousand Swords” photo session came to an end, a relic of a completely different era of my life.

In the attached photos, the first image shows the sword photographed in 1992. The second photo shows part of our “Ślężanie” group returning from Biskupin in 1997, standing beside Juby’s vehicle, he is standing on the far right side of the picture.

Source: Graveland's official facebook page

BLOG'S COMMENT: 

This post done in honour of Graveland's true spirit which was in the period 1992 - 1997

Gates of Heaven

"This film explores the architectural and spiritual significance of Gothic cathedrals, framing them as a profound human attempt to mirror divine order and symbolize the structure of the universe. During the 12th-century "springtime of civilization," European society channeled its collective faith and energy into constructing these monumental edifices, using geometry, intricate iconography, and light to bridge the gap between the earthly and the eternal. Beyond their role as sites of worship, cathedrals served as the holistic centers of medieval life—functioning as schools, civic hubs, and encyclopedias of human knowledge—until the shifting tides of history and the rise of new worldviews transformed them from living centers of meaning into enduring, yet silent, monuments of a bygone era. Ultimately, the documentary suggests that while the Gothic dream was transient, the cathedrals remain powerful testaments to the timeless human longing to find purpose, unity, and communion with the creator."

SEE ALSO: Kenneth Clark's Civilisation

The Voice of a Gone Age

 

Lorica Segmentata

 

The decline of Lorica Segmentata, the iconic Roman banded iron armor, can be attributed to several practical factors. While it offered excellent protection, its complex construction made it time-consuming and expensive to produce, and difficult to maintain, especially under the pressures of the 3rd century AD. The armor required skilled labor for repairs, which became a significant challenge during a time of increased military demands and economic strain. 

Moreover, Lorica Segmentata was uncomfortable to wear, restricting movement and obstructing breathing, which made it less suitable for the more mobile and irregular combat that characterized the 3rd-century military landscape. The armor also had issues with corrosion, as the iron strips and rivets could react with moisture and wear down over time. As a result, simpler forms of armor like Lorica Hamata (chainmail) and Lorica Squamata (scale armor) gained popularity due to their practicality, flexibility, and easier maintenance. 

These alternatives provided adequate protection and better comfort, making them more suited to the evolving needs of the Roman army. Ultimately, these factors led to the phasing out of Lorica Segmentata, which was no longer as viable for the Roman forces facing the challenges of the 3rd century.

SOURCE: The Ancient History Hub

We Will Return!

20th of April

1946 - 2026

 

The Seer of Race

 “When we therefore ask, ‘Who is our authority?’ there is only one answer: ‘the voice of our blood.’ We can add that this voice was once unclear and unintelligible, but has become comprehensible through the words of the great seers of our race—those who were conscious when we were still unconscious; above all, through our Führer, Adolf Hitler.”

J.C. Nachenius - A Portrait of the Reich

Lightning's Light and Fire

 So would I die

As then I saw him die,

The friend, who like a god

Into my darkling youth

Threw lightning's light and fire:

Buoyant yet deep was he,

Yea, in the battle's strife

With the bright dancer's heart.

Amid the warriors

His was the lightest heart,

Amid the conquerors

His brow was dark with thought—

He was a fate poised on his destiny:

Unbending, casting thought into the past

And future, such was he.

Fearful beneath the weight of victory,

Yet chanting, as both victory and death

Came hand and hand to him.

Commanding even as he lay in death,

And his command that man annihilate.

So would I die

As then I saw him die,

Victorious and destroying.

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE - The Last Desire