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).

Mariensäule on Marienplatz.

Virgin Mary atop the Mariensäule.

Putto fighting a dragon.

History

It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War, to be precise, following a respective vow by Duke Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria if the ducal residential cities of Munich and Landshut would be spared from war destruction. The column is topped by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven, created in 1590. The figure was originally located in the 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.

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