“Know thyself” the inscription on the Schillerdenkmal reads. These words echo across the Gendarmenmarkt a constant reminder of the monument’s profound message.
Here before us stands the Schillerdenkmal a tribute to the legendary poet philosopher and historian Friedrich Schiller. This magnificent monument is more than just a statue. It’s a testament to Berlin’s rich cultural heritage and a symbol of artistic achievement.
Commissioned in 1864 the Schillerdenkmal was the brainchild of Reinhold Begas a prominent 19th-century sculptor. Begas’s creation was the first public monument dedicated to a poet in Berlin. The project was funded by Crown Prince Wilhelm later Kaiser Wilhelm I the city of Berlin and public donations. The unveiling in 1871 was delayed by the Franco-Prussian War. It took place on the 112th anniversary of Schiller’s birthday. The celebration also marked the renaming of the central part of Gendarmenmarkt to Schillerplatz. This name lasted until 1936.
The Schillerdenkmal isn’t just a single statue. It’s a complex ensemble. Schiller himself is depicted as a young confident man crowned with laurel leaves. The model for his head was a bust created by Johann Heinrich von Dannecker a friend of Begas. The statue rests on a cube-shaped pedestal surrounded by four basins each featuring a lion-head waterspout. Though designed as a fountain it was never fully functional as such.
Four allegorical figures represent Schiller’s main creative areas. Lyric Poetry is depicted with a swan-headed harp. Tragedy holds a mask. History displays tablets inscribed with the names of Schiller Lessing Kant Goethe and other notable figures. Finally Philosophy holds a scroll with the Greek inscription “Know Thyself.” Two small bas-reliefs complete the ensemble. They show Schiller receiving a lyre from the muses and being introduced to great writers of the past.
The monument’s history isn’t without its trials. During the Third Reich Gendarmenmarkt became a parade ground. The Schillerdenkmal was dismantled and stored. A bronze copy was created using metal from a melted-down memorial to Emil and Walther Rathenau. This copy now resides in Schiller Park in Wedding.
The original marble Schiller statue was kept in Lietsensee Park during the city’s division after World War II. The damaged allegorical figures were stored in Friedrichsfelde Zoo. An East-West cultural agreement in 1986 allowed the reunification of all surviving parts in East Berlin. The reconstructed monument was returned to its original place on Gendarmenmarkt in 1988.
Extensive renovations in 2006 cleaned the monument repaired small damages and restored the cast-iron railing. The Schillerdenkmal stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and artistic triumph a lasting legacy to a literary giant. Let us reflect on the enduring wisdom “Know thyself.” It remains as relevant today as it was when first inscribed upon this remarkable monument.