Statues - Hither & Thither

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Konstanz
Lkr. Konstanz
Baden-Württemberg

Bekenntnisplatz

Mariensäule

St Mary's column

The mother of Jesus Christ
(Wikipedia)

1683

Description

Column with a statue of Saint Mary with Jesus, standing on a crescent moon.

Inscription(s)

MARIÆ
Dominæ an
gelorvm

MARIÆ
Terrori in
ferorvm

MARIÆ
Refvgio pec
catorvm

MARIÆ
Patronæ mor
talivm

deo ter opt. maximo
virgini sine labe conceptae
coeli terraeqve reginae
hoc perenne ad posteros
monvmentvm
posvi ecclesia constantiensis
mdclxxxiii

MARIAE
matri misericordiae
vrbis constantiensis
protectrici potentissimae

MARIAE
virginvm virgini
ecclesiae cathedralis
dominae clementissimae

MARIAE
matri ter admirabili
dioecesis constantiensis
patronae avgustissimae

Annotation

The statue was commissioned by bishop Johann von Praßberg and inaugurated 2 May 1683.

Depictions of Saint Mary

Saint Mary, as the mother of Jesus Christ, has a central role in the life of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic veneration of her as the Blessed Virgin Mary has grown over time both in importance and manifestation, not only in prayer but in art, poetry and music. She is usually depicted as a beautiful young woman, with a (blue) mantle. In the majority of the depictions she is having the Infant Jesus in her arms or on her lap.
Attributes of Saint Mary:

A crown of 12 stars (Relevation 12:1), sometimes 7 stars.
A royal crown, sometimes also a scepter: Mary Queen of Heaven.
Standing on a globe.
Standing on the crescent moon (Relevation 12:1).
Crushing the serpent (sometimes a dragon) under her feet. The serpent can have an apple in his mouth (Genesis 3:15). A special depiction is where Jesus impales the serpent with a spear-cross.
Flowers: Lily (symbol of virginity and purity), roses (Mary's mystical participation in the Holy Trinity as Heaven's Rose or Mystical Rose), iris or "Sword Lily" (emblem of Our Lady's Seven Sorrows), fleur-de-lis (resembling both the Iris and the Madonna Lily)

The Infant Jesus sometimes has some attributes too:

a crown and/or a royal orb (usually in combination with Mary as Queen of Heaven)
making a blessing gesture

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Konstanzer Münster.

Location (N 47°39'46" - E 9°10'33")

Item Code: debw289; Photograph: 3 October 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt