Golden Gate
While the other gates were defensive, this one is purely ornamental. The four women up top represent virtues that the people of Gdansk should exhibit toward outsiders (left to right): Peace, Freedom, Prosperity and Fame. The gold-lettered inscription a psalm in medieval German, compares Gdansk to Jerusalem: famous and important. Directly above the arch is the Gdansk coat of arms: two white crosses under a crown on a red shield. You can see this symbol all over town. Inside the arch, there are old photos showing the 195 bomb damage. On the right is a heartbreaking aerial view of the city n 1945, when 80 percent of its buildings were in ruins.
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of ... ... read more 
