Whats in a name?

Why was King Gustav Adolph’s massive warship named Vasa? According to our guide, “vasa” means “wheat” and is referenced in the ship’s masthead and elsewhere as a bundle of wheat.

In addition to symbolizing abundance, this bundled wheat is also meant to be similar to the ancient Roman symbol for power, which is a bundle of rods with an axe jutting out of it.

This Roman symbol is called a fasces, and gives the word “fascism” its root.Read more