The New Uppsala
Now Known as "Uppsala"
Old Multi-Deist Uppsala was Finally Replaced as a Spiritual Center
by Christian Bishops and Moved Five Miles Away
to speed conversions along, and remove the distraction of memory
The Cathedral has changed greatly since the 13th century when it was founded here, with fires, reconstructions, changes in design, ultimately as shown here, Baltic Gothic with strong brick walls. The Cathedral formally was moved from the area at Gamla Uppsala, Old Uppsala --not the building, the status. The earlier pre-Christian Kings' Mounds remain at Gamla Uppsala.
Cathedral at UppsalaElaborate triptychs, altar carvings in three parts that folded for travel or safekeeping, were also teaching tools for a congregation that could not read, and where the services were in Latin. This one was made in Brussels, about 1520. It is the largest Cathedral in Scandinavia.
Triptych 1520, Uppsala CathedralUppsala Cathedral looks like a practical place - no extra plantings, no landscaping, simple and direct. Up the shallow steps is a ceremonial area with flagpoles.
Uppsala Cathedral, rose windowOld doors. The strength comes from the diagonal boards, and here, the iron hinges extend across the width, reinforcing the wood.
Uppsala Cathedral, old door.Frescoes are intact and unrestored. Here, a female figure. Painted ceilings are common.
Fresco, Uppsala CathedralNow we need to get back into this. There are two kings with Vasa in the name: Vasa and Gustav Vasa. Which is which? For Warrior Kings, see the book of that name at Google Book, Warrior Kings of Sweden. 1942. Gustav Vasa (page 22 ff) and Vasa.
Vasa (page 53 ff) had life with intrigues, vengeances, and then look for the personal touches -- he would leave an audience chamber to go play with a child. He had many: one from the first wife, Catherine, a fragile princess without wealth or power from Germany, and she died in a few years; then ten from the second, Margaret, from a Swedish noble family; and none then from the third, another Catherine but this was Margaret's niece. All these people in churches in grand burials have lives worth looking up. So do the commoners, if we could find out more.
So which Vasa is this? The Reformation era Vasa broke with the Catholic Church.
Vasa Chapel, Uppsala Cathedral. Burial of King Gustav Eriksson Vasa and Two of his Three Wives (The Third died later and is also buried there); or is this King Vasa?Why does one wife of Vasa hold a sceptre, and not the other? Priority of the wealthy one? But she was not royalty. The poor one was.
King Gustav Vasa, or is it just Vasa, with sceptre; and one wife with sceptre also? Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala, SwedenIdentify royalty by gown and crown. This one, however, we can't find. Is this the third wife, after her death? Margaret's niece, Catherine?
Uppsala Cathedral: Queen, on her own. Which? Crown, no gilt, elegant fabric shown in stone.John Gustav Sandberg's work, we think. Frescoes from a later date, 1830, showing the life of Vasa.
Frescoes, life of King Gustav Vasa, by John Gustav Sandberg, 1830's.Patron Saints of the Cathedral:
St. Laurentius of Rome, Saint Lawrence, died in 252 AD; a mistranslation of a word for "martyred" became "roasted" and the tradition therefore is that he was placed on a hot gridiron etc. Patron saint also of chefs, enjoy Wikipedia but independently vet -- see Wikipedia on Lawrence of Rome. He is supposed to have safeguarded the Holy Grail for a time. See also Community of Sweden. Other patrons: King Eric of Sweden, and King Olof of Norway. Why is the head of Laurentius off?
Headless Saint Laurentius, headless since the 13th century? What happened?Laurentius Petri is a contemporary of Vasa, was a renowned reformer, and an Olof translated scripture into Swedish, see History Learning Site. Names recur. No answers yet on the head. And there are several Laurentius historical persons, including an Icelandic bishop in the 1300's. Enough. Find the list at Wikipedia on Laurentius, the list.
We now think it is Emmanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772, visionary, clairvoyant (it was believed after several uncanny events), intellect, scientist, philosopher, and -- some thought -- a new prophet. See Swedenborg Study. But a check on Images for Swedenborg Uppsala shows another closed casket sarcophagus, not a figure on top.
Emmanuel Swedenborg, Uppsala Cathedral? If not, it is an unhappy, or just sleeping someone else.Evoking Swedenborg: Swedenborg awoke from a deep sleep and asked the maid and another person what time it was. They told him, and he sighed, went back to sleep and died. See Study.
Tower, Uppsala, Sweden 