Add a comment about the monument "Eros" in London

Among the unofficial symbols of London "Eros" takes a special place. Someone is meeting here with friends, someone with a girl, someone waiting for parents - in general, everyone knows it.

Nowadays, few people remember that it is actually a memorial in honor of the Duke of Shaftesbury, the fighter for the abolition severe child labor. The Shaftesbury Avenue street is also named after him.


The history of the creation

The monument to the famous philanthropist and politician was decided to be installed a few years after his death, and the famous sculptor Alfred Gilbert received the order for the sculpture. He executed the order, the sculpture was installed on the square in 1892, but immediately after the opening, a scandal began.

According to the sculptor's plan, the statue depicts the Ancient Greek deity Anteros - the personification of philanthropy. But when the statue was opened, it seemed to viewers so far from philanthropy, let's say that it was immediately renamed Eros, the embodiment of sensual love and brother of Anteros, and the public, critics, journalists, and almost all public institutes at once attacked the sculptor .

The sculpture did not please everyone - some people thought that the almost naked statue in the center of the city was a bad idea (it was not welcomed in the Victorian era), someone did not like the material - this is the first sculpture in the world made of aluminum, and he is known to be oxidizing tsya, while others believed that the ancient Greek god has no place on the memorial.

Poor Gilbert swore a long time all the newspapers in the city, it is very bad it took, but now, two centuries later, it is one of the city's attractions. But the name has not changed - it is still called "Eros."

Meaning

Now in London, this is perhaps the most frequently used meeting place - it is called "from Eros". The sculpture depicts a young man with wings, who holds a bow in his hands. It is raised to the pedestal, on the middle level of which the water is pouring into the bowl - such a small fountain.

The place is very crowded: there are a lot of tourists, and there are many Londoners, and street actors - in general all are many.

"Eros" an unofficial symbol of London, if you ask its inhabitants, they are usually called the symbol of London, not the Big Ben or the Tower, but this small sculpture. With her, by the way, is associated with a number of urban legends. Not surprisingly, a rather large percentage of marriages in London begin with a "visit from Eros."

Almost all tourists come here - this is the place where half of London's tourist routes converge. And it's worth it, because both the sculpture is interesting, and the place is very famous, and there are some interesting buildings on the square.

"Eros" and Piccadilly Circus Square

Practical Information

To go here better in the evening, here very much beautiful night illumination: illuminated and actually "Eros", and buildings around. Well, in the evening, there are a lot of young people around, in the afternoon she is studying or working.

Piccadilly-Serks station is best for the trip here - she is located directly under the statue, but always crowded.

There are many other sights around. On the square itself there are several interesting buildings, a number of cheerful and rampant Soho with a huge number of restaurants, from the square begins Piccadilly (it has many historic buildings) and Regent Street with a mass of shops.