Artus Court in Gdansk

The origins of the Artus Courts date back to the Middle Ages. The name derives from the legendary Celtic leader, King Arthur. For the people of that time, Arthur was the epitome of knightly virtues, and the Round Table, where he sat with his brave knights, symbolized equality and partnership.

The name of the building, "curia regis Artus," meaning "royal court of Arthur," constructed in Gdańsk between 1348 and 1350, first appeared in 1357. A document from 1358 refers to it as "curia sancti Georgi," or "Court of St. George," and mentions other similar Baltic courts located in Toruń, Chełmno, Elbląg, Braniewo, Królewiec (Kaliningrad), Rewal, Riga, and Stralsund. The current grand burgher palace was built between 1477 and 1481 on the site of the original structure that burned down. The palace served as the seat of several brotherhoods that gathered the elite of Gdańsk—representatives of the patriciate and wealthy bourgeoisie. Craftsmen, tradesmen, and hired workers were strictly prohibited from entering. In the evenings, wealthy merchants and foreign guests gathered here, paying in advance for the beverages they consumed. The banquets were enlivened by performances by musicians, singers, tightrope walkers, and jugglers.

The building's original Gothic facade was first rebuilt in 1552 in the Italian Renaissance style. The appearance of the facade from that time can be seen in the painting "The Apotheosis of Gdańsk Trade" by Izaak van den Blocke, located in the Main Town Hall. The current facade of the Artus Court, created by Abraham van den Blocke in 1617, depicts ancient heroes carved in stone: Scipio Africanus, Themistocles, Camillus, and Judas Maccabeus. Above them are allegorical sculptures of Justice and Strength, and the top is crowned with a statue of the goddess Fortuna. On the portal, the people of Gdańsk placed golden medallion portraits of the King of Poland, Sigismund III, and his son, Prince Władysław IV. The northern part of the palace facade has retained its Gothic character.