Gazing up at the Engel, can you sense the echoes of history swirling around its copper form? This statue, perched atop the Berlin Victory Column, isn’t just a gilded ornament. It’s a powerful symbol, a testament to a tumultuous past. The Berlin Victory Column, crowned by the Engel statue, commemorates Prussia’s victories in the 19th-century wars of German unification. King Wilhelm I commissioned the column, initially to celebrate the triumph over Denmark in the Second Schleswig War. However, subsequent victories against Austria and France added layers of meaning to this towering monument. The column, designed by Heinrich Strack, wasn’t always here in the Großer Stern. It originally stood on Königsplatz (now Platz der Republik) before being moved in the late 1930s as part of Hitler’s Germania project. During this relocation, the column grew taller with an added section, reaching its current height of 67 meters. Now, let’s talk about the Engel, that gleaming figure you see above. Berliners affectionately nicknamed her “Goldelse,” or “Golden Elsie.” This 8.3-meter bronze sculpture, crafted by Friedrich Drake, depicts Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. She holds a laurel wreath, symbolizing triumph, and a spear adorned with an iron cross. While officially Victoria, the eagle on her helmet links her to Borussia, the personification of Prussia. Climb the 285 steps to the viewing platform beneath the Engel. You’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Berlin, a fitting tribute to the history this monument represents. The Engel, a silent witness to Berlin’s triumphs and tribulations, continues to watch over the city, a reminder of its complex and fascinating past.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to