St. Vitus Cathedral - St. George Statue - Prague, Czech Republic
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ToRo61
N 50° 05.421 E 014° 24.026
33U E 457111 N 5548848
St. George Statue at Prague Castle
Waymark Code: WM1875G
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 06/12/2023
Views: 1
On the III. Courtyard of Prague Castle stands the equestrian statue of St. George. The original statue was cast in 1373 by the brothers Martin and Jirí of Kluže, and the precise author of the artwork itself is not known. During the fire of Prague Castle in 1541, the right hand of the statue was severed. It was further damaged in 1562 when spectators watching a knight's tournament climbed onto it and threw it to the ground. The horse's head broke off during the fall. Since 1928, it has stood at its current location, which is a fountain created according to the design of architect Josip Plecnik. Since the 1970s, a copy of the statue has been displayed on the III. Courtyard. The original is exhibited in the Story of Prague Castle exhibition.
According to a reliable legend, St. George was a Roman soldier from Anatolia (present-day Turkey). He is revered as a martyr and the patron saint of soldiers, scouts, and farmers. Following in his father's footsteps, he joined the army after reaching adulthood and quickly rose in the military hierarchy due to his abilities. At the age of twenty, he received the title of Tribune and later became a knight. He became a member of the personal guard of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, which later proved fatal for him. In 303, Diocletian issued edicts allowing the persecution of Christians, and George was ordered to participate in their persecution. However, George defied this order and confessed to Christianity. Enraged, Diocletian had him tortured for treason in a very cruel manner, and on April 23, 303, his head was cut off.
Legend has it that he saved the inhabitants of the city of Cyrene in Libya from a dragon that had built its nest near a water source. Every day, people had to lure the dragon away from its nest with a human sacrifice chosen by lot, and only then could they access water from the spring. One day, the lot fell on the king's daughter, who was offered to the dragon as bait. Passing by, George confronted the dragon, killed it, and saved the princess.
Location City and Country: Prague, Czech Republic
Name of Location or Landmark: St Vitus Cathedral - St George Statue
Location or Landmark website: [Web Link]
Puzzle or 3d model Manufacturer: Fine Art America
Puzzle or 3d model Manufacturer's Website: [Web Link]
Puzzle Type: Cardboard 2 dimensional
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