Teh Byzantine Frog

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[LordShiva]

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[Heresson]

Frogs

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New collections were added:
- The Beehive Houses
- Hama (awaiting acceptance)
- Qasr Ibn Wardan
- Shmaymis Castle
- Shayzar Castle and Orontes Frogs

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Added:
-Tortosa
-Arwad
-Al-Marqab

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These are my pics from my Syrian re-union in Krakow. I haven't posted them here, so I'm doing it now

This is Krakow's barbican, built to protect the city from possible turkish threat

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Florianska street and gate

I'm not sure about its name, but it's either because of St Florian, the patron of fire-fighters and Poland (Poles sent to Rome for reliques of someone who'd be Poland's patron, and as priest entered catacombs with saints' tombs, he asked, joking; "who'd like to have a trip to Poland" - and a voice from St Florian's tomb replied "I would"
But there was also a city named Kleparz or Florencja (which is also polish name for Firenze) outside this gate...
but perhaps Florencja was named this way because of this gate... I'd have to check that

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3d pic of the barbican

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church of St Mary. In middle ages, it used to be a german church
Fortunatelly, allegedly after revolt against his rule and on behalf of a german candidate to the throne, king Wladyslaw Lokietek slaughtered every citizen of the city who couldn't spell polish words

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St Mary's church and part of Sukiennice - center of textile trade

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church of St Adalbert (Wojciech), patron of Poland, the oldest church in Krakow, dating to the times from before giving it city rights.

St Adalbert came from czech local ducal family, whose rule was abolished by Przemyslids. He became bishop of Prague, but, outraged at lack of respect for christian ways in the city, he left his post. Later on, he was invited to Poland and sent to Prussia with a peaceful christianisation mission, and was martyred by a prussian warrior who lost his brother in previous fights with Poland. Allegedly prince (later king) Boleslaw Chrobry paid for his corpse as much gold as the saint weighted. St Adalbert was one of the reasons of Otto III's visit to Poland.
When czech prince Brzetyslaw invaded Poland, he stole his reliques, as well of 5 Polish Martyrs. St Adalbert's head was, however, miraculously re-discovered.
St Adalbert is the first patron of Poland

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this tower is the only thing that remains of the town hall

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the tower and Sukiennice

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I believe this was the first baroque church in Krakow