At the intersection of Oak and Bath streets, in the heart of the Belgian capital, is one of the most world famous sculptures and, without a doubt, the most popular attraction of Brussels – the fountain "Manneken Pis". It is a small statue of a little naked boy peeing into the pool. Although similar compositions are available in other cities of the world (for example, in Geraardsbergen, Hasselt, Gent has its own "Manneken Pis"), near Brussels bronze sculpture every year thousands and thousands of tourists. Undoubtedly, Belgian "Manneken Pis" is the most famous in the world.
A Lot of legends around the origin of the statue, and the most common of them is associated with the name of Duke Godfrey the Third. During Grimbergen war, when the army of the monarch of Gottfried of Louvain the Third fought with the enemy, his two year old son (it was Duke Godfrey the Third) hung in a basket on a tree to view the future ruler inspired citizens. The child allegedly urinated on top of the warriors who fought under a tree, and they lost the battle.
There is another version. Brussels in the 14th century was under siege, the enemies sought to lay explosives and blow up the city walls. But they are followed a little boy whose name was Julian. The child peeing on a burning fuse, so was out of ammunition laid out by the enemy, and saved the city.
However, there is another story telling about the origin of the sculpture "Manneken Pis". Once one wealthy merchant's missing son. Gathered a large group of people looking for him, searched every corner of the city. And here the child was found peeing in the garden. The merchant was overjoyed, and in gratitude to local residents decided to set the fountain.
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Where the truth and fiction, is now hardly anyone knew. It is known only that his present view of the statue was acquired thanks to the skill of the court sculptor of the Mannerist Jerome Dukana in 1619. And since 1695, she was repeatedly kidnapped. Once it happened in the period of Napoleon's army in Brussels, and the last time the sculpture "Manneken Pis" was stolen in the 1960s, after which it as before, replaced by a Replicant. In 1908, about the pursuit of the kidnappers of a statue was even made into a dumb French movie.
With this fountain involves a lot of all sorts of curious traditions. For example, in holidays it is accepted to replace water jets beer or wine. Also from time to time the statue "Manneken Pis" clothed in costumes. First outfit for the sculpture, as the story goes, was created in 1968 by the Bavarian elector Maximilian-Emmanuel, and since then it has become not just a tradition, and in a kind of honoring guests.
The fountain grille monthly posted a list of all the outfits that “Brussels” will change within a month. Several hundred of all kinds of costumes includes a closet of the statue. All the outfits are changed strictly in accordance with list submitted by a nonprofit organization called ‘Friends of Manneken-Pis». As a rule, the ceremonies of the changing of vestments of the brass band plays, and the action turns into a real holiday. Near sculptures in the Central city square, is the Royal Museum which presents an exhibition of outfits, with more than eight hundred instances. Many of the costumes represent the national dress of the countries whose citizens visit the Belgian capital as tourists. Other clothing – uniforms of different professions, military services, associations and so on.
In that not only clothed the statue "Manneken Pis"! For example, in honor of the six-month presidency of the EU Hungary boy dressed in a Hungarian hussar attire. In 2004 with the aim of attracting attention to the problems of child soldiers on the initiative of Amnesty International dressed in his uniform of a soldier. Tried on the boy also donated to the international space mission, a Russian cosmonaut suit, outfit Santa Claus, apparel urologist, in the form of a cadet force of the United States of America, wrestler costume, judo outfits of Dracula and the evil spirit of the Inca, and many others.
It Should be noted that, in an effort to keep the glory of the fountain of Brussels established a few similar compositions. So, in 1987, close to the "Manneken Pis" at the end of the alley of Allegiance, put “Pee girl”. According to one version, this statue was a parody a couple of world-famous symbol of the city. The author of the sculpture-Denis-Adrian Debove. The composition is a naked girl who writes in a tank set below. The statue for security purposes, set in an alcove and surrounded by bars.
In Brussels there is another similar sculpture. This bronze statuette mongrel peeing dogs,made in full size. The animal is depicted with a raised sidewalk on post back paw. This composition was created in 1999 by the sculptor Tom Frantzen. The dog is a mixed breed, as the author suggests, symbolizes the Union in Brussels from different cultures. To see the sculpture “Peeing dog” can near the fountains “Pee girl” and “Brussels”, which was the inspiration for its creation. Here it is, the Belgian art!
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TR: https://tostpost.com/tr/haber-ve-toplum/7924-en-nl-cazibe-br-ksel---e-me-manneken-pis.html
Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."
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