Apollo and Maria: Two 17th-Century Warships Found at Vaxholm, Sweden

Abstract

In October 2019, the wrecks of two warships were found in the inlet to Stockholm. According to historical sources, Vasa’s three so-called sister ships might have been sunk in the area to block off a strait. These large ships were launched in the years 1629–1634 and built by the same master shipbuilder who participated in the construction of Vasa. However, after further archaeological investigations, the two ships were identified as Apollo and Maria, two medium-sized warships launched in 1648. The wrecks shed light on a twenty-year period when ships of this type were prioritized because they were considered more practical and offered more value for money. The ships were heavily constructed and could carry heavy armament for their size. They could be at sea in difficult conditions and be used for a variety of purposes. Despite the fact that the investigations did not match initial hopes of finding Vasa’s sister ships, important results were achieved. In 2021, Äpplet, one of Vasa’s sister ships, was found in the vicinity of Apollo and Maria.