Hidden in plain sight stands the Monument des Droits de l’Homme. A testament to human rights it’s tucked away in a quiet corner of Paris. This unassuming monument holds a wealth of secrets.
Commissioned by the city of Paris in 1989 the Monument des Droits de l’Homme celebrates the bicentennial of the French Revolution. Jacques Chirac was mayor of Paris at the time. The architect Michel Jantzen and sculptor Ivan Theimer created this intriguing work.
Inspired by Egyptian mastabas the monument is far more than meets the eye. Its design incorporates many references to revolutionary iconography. A square stone edifice opens to an octagonal interior. Light streams in from above. The exterior walls are adorned with engraved texts reliefs and twelve stones bearing the bronze seals of the 1989 European Community nations.
Two obelisks one triangular based and the other square stand behind the main structure. These obelisks are covered in a profusion of symbols and texts including the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Intricate details and reliefs abound. Several statues are also present. One depicts a man in a toga holding documents. Another shows a man urging people to read the texts. A woman and child wearing a hat made of newspapers represent events of 1989.
The southwest facade features a triangle a frequent symbol in Freemasonry. It evokes the elevation of human thought. An inscription commemorates the bicentennial. A sundial is also present. The northeast facade features a bronze door flanked by columns. The door is covered in reliefs and historical documents from the Revolution. Above it an oculus depicts an ouroboros.
The other two facades bear stones from European nations. Their capitals and bronze seals are engraved. The entire structure rests on a two-step podium with bronze fire pots at the corners. This monument although seemingly austere is rich in symbolic meaning. It’s a complex interplay of architectural design and historical narrative. The Monument des Droits de l’Homme in Paris is a captivating site. It stands as a silent but powerful reminder of the ideals it represents. It encourages reflection and a deeper understanding of human rights.