Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stand in front of a statue that survived a tumultuous time in Prague’s history? You are standing right in front of it now. It’s the *sousoší Panny Marie*, a statue of the Virgin Mary, a monument that has witnessed the ups and downs of this city for centuries.
Standing in the heart of Old Town Square since the 17th century, the *sousoší Panny Marie* stands tall as a symbol of faith and hope for the city. The original column was erected in 1650, shortly after the end of the Thirty Years’ War. It was a thank you to the Virgin Mary for Prague’s victory over the Swedish Empire at the Battle of Prague in 1648. Originally sculpted by Johann Georg Bendl, the *sousoší Panny Marie* was considered one of the most prominent Marian columns in Europe.
The statue was almost 16 meters high and bore a two-meter gilded statue of Virgin Mary. At the base of the column was a hollow space that served as a chapel. Inside, there was a Gothic panel with the image of the “Virgin Mary of the Square” (in Czech: Panna Marie Rynecká), dating from the beginning of the 15th century. Four statues of angels surrounded the base of the column, each representing a cardinal virtue: wisdom, righteousness, bravery, and gentleness.
But this statue has also seen its share of tragedy. In 1918, the *sousoší Panny Marie* was torn down as a symbol of the monarchy and Catholicism. It was a dark time for Europe and especially this city, full of turmoil and change. Thankfully, the remains of the statue were preserved and lovingly restored, though some pieces were lost forever.
It took many years, but the *sousoší Panny Marie* was finally rebuilt in 2020. The new statue is a faithful replica of the original, made from sandstone from India and dedicated to the people of Prague. Today, it stands once more in the heart of the city as a symbol of what Prague has overcome and what it continues to strive for: peace, hope, and faith.