New map confused Europeans: What about Israel? PHOTO

A new map of Europe has appeared on the website Brilliant Maps, showing all the countries directly or indirectly mentioned in the Polish national anthem, both in positive and negative contexts.

Poland is, as expected, highlighted in a distinct color, while certain neighboring and historically connected countries are marked as negatively or indirectly negatively mentioned, reflecting historical conflicts and political circumstances from the time the anthem was created.

On the other hand, some Western and Southern European countries are shown as positively or indirectly positively mentioned, reflecting alliances of that era and hopes for the restoration of Polish statehood.

Many users reacted immediately: “Even the Italians mention the Poles in their anthem,” wrote one user, Marcello.

“God bless Poland,” noted Abdel. Simon asked why Sweden was mentioned in a negative context, and someone explained that it was due to “historical circumstances.”

“It’s fine that Sweden or the Swedes are mentioned somewhere, since in the Swedish anthem neither Sweden nor the Swedes are mentioned,” came another response.

One user, Aleksandar, apparently Russian judging by his surname, didn’t like the map.

“It’s so sad to mention other countries and nations in an anthem… Just sing about us every time you sing it. Bad example, but it’s like when an anthem of a football club mentions other clubs—it sounds so silly every time fans sing it,” he wrote.

Broader context of the analysis

Most Balkan countries are clearly visible on the map and shown in a neutral color, without any special marking, meaning they are not mentioned in the text of the Polish anthem.

This includes Serbia, which is strikingly separated from Kosovo and Metohija. However, judging by the lack of comments, it seems nobody took the map seriously.

Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey (European part) are also uncolored, while Israel remains in the “gray zone.”

“What about Israel?”

“What about Israel?” was one of the first questions asked by a user named Ibrahim, who quickly received several answers.

“Why are you asking about Israel?” wrote one Pole, while a German from Lara sarcastically replied, “What about Mars?”

“Israel is not mentioned negatively for two reasons: it wasn’t present at the time the anthem was created, and it didn’t yet exist,” wrote another Pole.

In the Polish anthem, Italy, France, and Sweden are mentioned, while the extended version includes some references to Germany and Russia.

“One German, a Muscovite, will not calm down; when they take up the sword, everyone’s slogan will be unity and our homeland,” someone quoted a part of the anthem, followed by a detailed explanation of the map:

“For a thousand years, we have fought against the Germans (and the people who lived in these lands before the Slavs). We were the only ones to conquer the Russian throne and place a Pole on the throne of Moscow. So it’s normal that both countries think negatively of us. The same goes for Sweden, which we defeated…”