Temporary exhibition "Nicolaus Copernicus Above Time"

This exhibition is mainly devoted to an Astronomer with many passions and interests. It is a journey through the Pomorskie Voivodeship to Malbork, Kwidzyn, Sztum and Gdansk, which he visited during his numerous diplomatic duties. The aim of the exhibition is to present his activities as a doctor, cartographer, strategist, translator, diplomat, administrator, lawyer, economist and a canon.

The layout and form of boards resemble the format of a social media post. At the top of each board there is a profile graphic with a photo of Nicolaus Copernicus. There is also a profile that “shares” the post, the name of the exhibition and the attributes of our hero. The exhibition consists of nine boards with the graphics of Nicolaus Copernicus against the background of a contemporary photo of the place where he was and the content of the post. The tenth board has an informative function, it describes the most important facts from his life and his achievements.

The exhibition is dedicated to both big and small tourists, a souvenir after a visit can be a photo with Nicolaus Copernicus and Jan Heweliusz. The place of the exhibition is the courtyard of the Hevelianum, a modern center with interactive exhibitions and attractions for both children and adults – located in the 19th-century buildings of a former military fort. And the name Hevelianum refers to Jan Heweliusz, born in Gdansk, our local astronomer.

Attribute: Administrator

The fate of the administrator – whether in the guesthouse or at home, there is always something to do. Even when Uncle Luke Watzenrode gave an audience to the deputies in 1512.

Attribute: Doctor

Lilies of the valley! Probably not many of you know that they symbolize the profession of a doctor! It’s one of my many jobs, and they say you can’t be good at everything…

Attribute: Cartographer

That I have never created a map of mysterious, beautiful Gdansk… It’s a pity, but my maps created with Bernard Wapowski were also great. He was, after all, the father of Polish cartography! We worked together on maps of Central and Eastern Europe.

Attribute: A canon

I remember how it would happen today, June 1504, the townspeople of Gdansk paid tribute to their loyalty to King Aleksander Jagiellonczyk. Here in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I spend time in peace and quiet dealing with spiritual matters. You have to do your thing.

Attribute: Astronomer

It has changed! Apparently, they like Heweliusz here, since such a science center bears his name! Think that I didn’t have a telescope, only a triquetrum… Considering the possibilities at the time, I probably achieved a lot.

Attribute: Economist

Merchants, goods, trade, coins clink all around. I wonder if any of them found time to read my treatises about the coins in all this confusion. And yet it was then, in 1526, that I was already creating a new Monetae cudendae ratio (Principles of minting coins)!

Attribute: Strategist

The largest brick castle in the world, to be seen only in !Pomorskie WOW! Impressive. The knowledge of the siege of this magnificent fortress helped me during the defence of the castle in Olsztyn in early 1521.

Attribute: Translator

Time passes, and the fair still attracts crowds! A must-see during a summer visit to Gdansk! Some things don’t change – merchants from different parts of the country and abroad, bustle, joyful atmosphere. An unforgettable experience!

Attribute: Lawyer

Cordula, all the best on your new way of life! You will be the wife of a banker and councilor of Gdansk, a great future awaits you! Just remember, if You need anything, your cousin is a great lawyer, there is a solution to every problem But you could have arranged the weather for the wedding better..

Information Board

-Nicholas Copernicus was born in Torun on February 19, 1473. His father, also Nicolaus, was a merchant, and his mother, Barbara Watzenrode, came from an illustrious family.

-He was only 10 years old when his father died. From that moment, the further fate of Nicolaus Copernicus was inseparably connected with the financial support of his uncle Lukasz Watzenrode (the future Bishop of Warmia).

– He studied in Krakow and in Italy in Bologna, Padua and Ferrara, he finished his studies in 1503, obtaining the title of doctor of canon law and the right to practice medicine.

-At the age of 31, he returned to Poland to the episcopal court. In Warmia, he learned the art of diplomacy from his uncle during the bishop’s numerous trips.

-In 1510, he assumed the religious and administrative duties of a canon of the Warmia Chapter. He was the Chancellor of the Chapter and a delegate to the assemblies and conventions of the Prussian states.

-He is best known in the field of astronomy. There were no telescopes back then. The instruments he used for observations in his observatory were the solar quadrant, the astrolabe (armillary zone), the parallactic triangle (triquetrum), the quadrant.

-Based on mathematical calculations, he proved that the sun is at the center of the solar system and the planets revolve around it. Although the idea of the Earth’s movement around the Sun was formulated as early as the 3rd century BC by Aristarchus of Samos, however, it was rejected for many centuries. The full formulation of the heliocentric theory, together with the examination of its consequences for astronomy, was given by Copernicus in the work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies).

-He held the office of administrator of Warmia, encouraged newcomers to settle down by granting reductions and equipping farms with tools and livestock.

-He also became famous in the field of military strategy – he commanded the defense of the castle in Olsztyn in the winter of 1521.

-As an economist, he developed the Monetae cudendae ratio in 1526-1528 (Principles of minting coins). Today, this law of economics is known as Copernicus-Gresham’s law.

-He died in Frombork at the end of May 1543, he was buried in the Frombork Cathedral. In 2010, his second but solemn funeral took place.