In the Old Town of Krakow up on a hill stands
gloriously the Wawel Cathedral. Its tower holds one of the biggest bells in
Europe; cast in 1520 by a famous bell-founder from Nuremberg, master Hans Behem.
It was named after its patron Sigismund I, King of Poland, who commissioned it.
The bell is so heavy that it requires 12 bell-ringers to swing it. It tolls only
on special occasions. And this brings us to a legend of the Sigismund Bell.
In the early 16th century, King Sigismund
I ruled the Polish lands. He was a very successful monarch and a great patron
of arts. It was his greatest wish to create such bell which would remind the
people of the glory of Poland.
One day, as King listened to the songs and verses of
his court poets accompanied by the lute, he felt an inspiration to create not
only a bell, but a bell of such sound that would beat as one with the rhythm of
the hearts of the Polish people.
The King confided in his favorite poet, telling him
his greatest wish. The poet listened intently and promised to help the King.
Thus the poet accompanied the King on all his visits
to the foundry. Together they admired the art of the famous bell-founder.
On one of such visits, when the bell was coming to
its final appearance, the poet pulled one of the strings from his lute and
threw it into the bell cast filled with liquid metal commenting, “This way the
notes of the songs will forever ring in the sound of the bell, representing the
hearts of its people.”
As a result, the bell was gifted with a sound
pulsating with feeling thanks to the poet whose heart was filled with music. And
the King’s further wish was to fulfil people’s wishes. Therefore, he granted
the power of people’s wishes.
So it is said when a person with an honorable wish
stands under the bell and touches its clapper, the dream will come true.
Source: Legendary Cracow. Tales Known and Unknown by
Ewa Basiura
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