The etymology of the name al-Rus’/Rhos needs clarification. The Byzantine Patriarch Photius, in a circular letter 867, calls the Gotlandic merchants Rhos.

We know from Arabic writers in the 800s that al- Rus’ were merchants from the island in the Baltic Sea region, who came rowing on the Russian rivers. Gotland only became part of Sweden in 1679. The Gotlandic history is misleading and difficult to understand if it is bundled with the Swedish history, that so far has been done. Already 800- 500 BCE Gotlandic merchants had a large trading emporium in Achmulova on the Volga. To understand the history of the Gotlandic Merchant Republic and its Medieval Churches, one must fully realize that Gotland was an independent Merchant Republic, and the hub of the Baltic Sea region, which from time immemorial had its relations mainly east and south and controlled trade on the Russian rivers from time to time. This is especially obvious in the development of Christianity. Overtime these symbols, and the various things they represent, become absorbed into the dominating culture and religion and come to represent the core values of those cultures and religions. Symbols satisfy a need to be linked to an ancient tradition and the physical remains of that tradition. This is because symbols are important to each generation and seem to be imbedded in the psyche. Ancient symbolism continuously influences the lives of everyone, in every society, throughout time. Solidly a Christian state, Kentucky continues to publicly exhibit on its old buildings ancient symbols and icons which have been part of humankind’s history for thousands of years, far longer than Christianity has existed.

It is also home to hundreds of buildings, some on the National Register, which are adorned with thousands of gargoyles, grotesques and Green Men. It was the birthplace of both president’s Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, was explored by Daniel Boone, saw numerous battles during both the Revolution and Civil War and is mostly known for its bourbon, moonshine, tobacco and horses. Kentucky, one of four Commonwealth states, became the 15th state of the Union in 1792.

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