Mariensäule

The Mariensäule (lit. 'Mary's Column') is a Marian column located on the Marienplatz in Munich, Germany. Mary is revered here as Patrona Bavariae (Latin: Protector of Bavaria).

History

It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of

Frauenkirche. Mariensäule in Munich was the first column of this type built north of the Alps and inspired erecting other Marian columns in this part of Europe.^[1]

Features

At each corner of the column's pedestal is a statue of a putto, created by Ferdinand Murmann. The four putti are each depicted fighting a different beast, symbolizing the city's overcoming of adversities: war represented by the lion, pestilence by the cockatrice, hunger or famine by the dragon and heresy by the serpent.

The full inscription is as follows (with a translation)

Latin	Translation
DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO VIRGINI DEIPARAE BOICAE DOMINAE BENIGNISSIMAE PROTECTRICI POTENTISSIMAE OB PATRIAM VRBES EXERCITVS SEIPSVM DOMVM ET SPES SVAS SERVATAS HOC PERENNE AD POSTEROS MONVMENTVM MAXIMILIANVS COM. PAL. RHENI VTRIVSQVE BAVARIAE DVX S.R.I. ARCHIDAP. ET ELECTOR CLIENTVM INFIMVS GRATVS SVPPLEX POSUIT A. MDCXXXIIX	TO GOD THE BEST AND GREATEST AND TO THE VIRGIN, THE MOTHER OF GOD MISTRESS OF BAVARIA MOST BENIGN PROTECTRESS MOST POWERFUL; BECAUSE THE HOMELAND CITIES, ARMIES HIS OWN HOUSE AND HIS HOPES WERE SAVED THIS LASTING MEMORIAL FOR THOSE TO COME MAXIMILIANVS PALSGRAVE OF THE RHINE RULER OF BOTH BAVARIAS ARCHSTEWARD OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE AND ELECTOR THE WORST OF HER SERVANTS A GRATEFUL SUPPLICANT PUT UP IN THE YEAR 1638

References

^ For more and detailed pictures of the column see the respective German language article on wikipedia.de.

48°08′14″N 11°34′32″E / 48.1372°N 11.5755°E / 48.1372; 11.5755

[1] For more and detailed pictures of the column see the respective German language article on wikipedia.de.

[1]