The exhibition, entitled 1025: The Birth of a Kingdom, offers visitors a comprehensive look into the early medieval Polish state, its culture and its people.
Museum spokesman Michał Przeperski highlighted the significance of the year 1025, noting that it marked the coronations of both King Bolesław I and his son Mieszko II.
He emphasized that this period elevated Poland into the ranks of the most developed Christian nations of the time, with the crown symbolizing the ruler's prestige and recognition by major centers of power, notably the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.
The exhibition, which opened on November 11, features over 500 early medieval artifacts, many of which are rarely displayed together.
Tomasz Borowski, co-curator of the exhibition, said that items illustrating daily life are presented alongside treasures crafted from pure gold and adorned with sapphires.
"These exhibits are usually shown separately," he remarked. "Sapphires and gold go to prestigious museums, while bones are seen at archaeological fairs. On this exhibition, they meet for the first time, perhaps in 900 years."
Among the notable artifacts are a silver reliquary containing what are believed to be the remains of Catholic Saint Adalbert and the Płock Diadem, embellished with rubies, sapphires and pearls.
The exhibition also includes a gold ring with a topaz discovered beneath the Gniezno Cathedral, valuable textiles such as the "Chasuble from Kwieciszewo," and the 11th-century Codex Pretiosus, inscribed in gold letters.
To enhance the visitor experience, the exhibition incorporates interactive elements, including sensory stations and multimedia displays.
Borowski said that the aim is to present the kingdom holistically, capturing the moment when the Polish state and community were forming.
1025: The Birth of a Kingdom is open to the public until December 29.
The exhibition is a collaborative effort with the Gniezno Archdiocese Museum and the Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica in the west of the country.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP