Bremen Roland
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The Bremen Roland is a statue (Rathausplatz) of the city's protector, Roland, erected in 1404, which stands in the market square of Bremen, facing the cathedral. Charlemagne's knight Roland bears Durendart, the "sword of justice" and a shield decorated with the two-headed imperial eagle. Statues of Roland appear in numerous cities of the former Holy Roman Empire, as emblems of city liberties, Stadtrechte.[1]
The standing figure in limestone from Elm was commissioned to replace one burned in 1366. It confronts the church as a representation of city rights opposed to the territorial claims of the bishop.
From Bremen the symbol of civic liberty and freedom spread to other cities and has become a symbol of the new Europe. In July 2004, along with the town hall, the statue was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The best known of four statues of Roland to be found in Bremen, it is located in front of the town hall, facing the cathedral.
The statue is 5.47 m tall, and stands on a 60 cm rostrum. A supporting column, crowned by a baldachin, brings the combined height to 10.21 m.
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[edit] Legend
According to legend, Bremen will remain free and independent for as long as the Roland stands watching over the city. For this reason, it is alleged that a second Roland statue is kept hidden in the town hall's underground vaults, which can be quickly installed as a substitute, should the original fall.
[edit] See also
- Bremen Town Hall - listed in combination with the Roland as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
This article is based on a translation of the article Bremer Roland from the German Wikipedia.
