Česko

Statues - Hither & Thither

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Žďár nad Sázavou
kraj Vysočina

Santiniho / Bezručova

Barokní most se sochami

Baroque Bridge with Statues
1761

Žďár nad Sázavou / Barokní most se sochami

Description

Stone bridge from the early 18th century. Around 1761 Bernard Hennet, abbot of the Žďár monastery, initiated the setting of eight statues on the bridge. Each statue has at the foot the saint's name in a carouche and on the pedestal a shield with a chronogram. These chronograms are unreadable, seven showed the date 1761 and one (St. Methodius) the date 1766. The statues are (from north to south):

NORTH
Santiniho to the castle (Zámek)
1
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Svatý Benedikt z Nursie
Saint Benedict of Nursia

(c.480-543), Patron saint of Europe and students; founded communities for monks. Benedict's main achievement is his "Rule of Saint Benedict", containing precepts for his monks (Wikipedia).
Father of the rule. Depicted with book and chalice.
s.
benedi
ctus
5
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Svatý Bernard z Clairvaux
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

(1090 - 1153), French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order (Wikipedia).
s.
bernar
dus
2

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Svatý Mikuláš / Saint Nicholas

(4th century), Bishop of Myra (Wikipedia).
Patron of the monastery's church.
s.
nico
laus
e.p.
6

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Svatý Vojtĕch / Saint Adalbert

(c. 956 - 997), bishop of Prague and a missionary, was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. Patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, Hungary and Prussia (Wikipedia).
Patron of the country. Depicted as a bishop with a book and rudder.
s.
adal
bertus
e.p.
3

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Svatý Jan / Saint John, Martyr

Depicted as soldier with folded hands (according to the information panel, 'Patron against storms').
Two early martyrs with a legendary character and without historical foundation (Wikipedia).
s.
ioannes
m.
7

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Svatý Pavel / Saint Paul, Martyr

Depicted as a soldier with a palm branch (according to the information panel, 'Patron against lightning and hailstorm').
See no. 3.
s.
paulus
m.
4

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Svatý Cyril / Saint Cyril

(Old Church Slavonic: Кѷриллъ) (9th century), with his brother Methodius missionaries among the Slavic peoples; credited with devising the 'Cyrillic' alphabet (Wikipedia).
s.
cyril
lus
e.p.
8

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Svatý Metoděj / Saint Methodius

Depicted as a bishop with a book making a blessing gesture.
(Old Church Slavonic: Меѳодїи), 9th century, with his brother Cyril missionaries among the Slavic peoples; credited with devising the 'Cyrillic' alphabet (Wikipedia).
s.
metho
dius
e.p.
Bezručova to town center
SOUTH

Žďár nad Sázavou - Barokní most se sochami

Bridges with four or more statues

Mostly in Central Europe there are a number of bridges with several statues of saints. The presence of the saint statues on bridges can be explained by saying that "even strangers passing by could worship God in public through His saints, to the disgrace of heretics" (quote of the investors of the bridge at Náměšť nad Oslavou, source). A statue of the "bridge saint" Saint John of Nepomuk, is usually - but not always - included. In a few cases, bridges show secular statues (f.i., Hamburg). The overall prototype was Ponte d'Angeli, Rome.
Bridges with four or more statues are:
    30 statues
  1. Praha, Karlův most (Charles Bridge), (oldest 1683, most 18th century)
    20 statues
  2. Náměšť nad Oslavou
    12 statues
  3. Würzburg, Alte Mainbrücke, 1720-30
    8 statues
  4. Berlin, Schloßbrücke, 1847-57
  5. Žďár nad Sázavou
    6 statues
  6. Kłodzko, Most gotycki Św. Jana, 1655-1714
  7. Brtnice, Most pod zámkem, 1711-18
  8. Brtnice, Most na náměstí, early 18th century
  9. Lnáře
    4 statues
  10. Hamburg, Kornhausbrücke (statues of discoverers, two destroyed).
  11. Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, 1714-16
  12. Písek
For bridges with two statues, see the catchword list "Bridge with statues".

Tags

  • Benedict of Nursia, St.
  • Bernard of Clairvaux, St.
  • Bridge with statues
  • Chronogram
  • Cyril, St.
  • John (Martyr), St.
  • Methodius, St.
  • Nicholas, St.
  • Paul (Martyr), St.

    • Locatie (N 49°34'52" - E 15°56'9") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

    Item Code: czvy018; Photograph: 4 September 2012
    Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
    If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
    © Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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