Pompa funebris of the Dukes from Griffin Dynasty

Dukes’ burials were one of the most spectacular public ceremonies in the Griffins’ state. To this day the descriptions of funeral ceremonies of 27 members of the Pomeranian Dynasty have survived. The oldest of them refers to Duke Philip II, deceased on February 14, 1560 and buried in Wolgast. However, the most spectacular ceremonies took place in Szczecin and they were especially grand in scale in the case of a ruling Duke’s burial. Primarily, funeral ceremonies hosted by Pomeranian Dukes were of great political importance. Representatives of all social classes gathered around the deceased ruler and during the ceremony presented funeral banners with heraldic emblems, which symbolized the unity of the Duchy.

In 1946, while conducting safety works in the devastated Castle, a burial crypt of Pomeranian Dukes with fourteen sarcophagi was found. Eventually, after conservation works the six of them were on exhibition in the Eastern Wing of the Castle: sarcophagi of Bogislaw XIII, Philip II, Anna Maria, Francis I, Ulrich I and Bogislaw XIV.

In the years 2014-2015 as part of the modernization of the Northern Wing restoration work was carried out in the formal burial crypt. It restored its former character and original function. In 2015, the Dukes’ sarcophagi were moved back to their original place. The exhibition presents customs related to the funeral ceremonies of the Griffin Dynasty.

Place: Dukes’ Crypt (entrance B).