Statues - Hither & Thither |
Site Search:
|
|
Kutná Hora
Středočeský kraj Komenskeho náměstí / Jakubská |
Svatý Jan NepomuckýSaint John of NepomukNepomuk c. 1345 - Praha 1393confessor of the queen of Bohemia; patron saint of bridges (Wikipedia) |
18th century sculptor
1730s |
At the start of Komenskeho náměstí, there are two statues of saints on the chamfered corners. On the north side is this statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, and on the south side is a statue of Saint Jude Thaddeus (see here). These statues to mark the start and end point of the pilgrimage routes to Chrudim and Stará Boleslav.
In stead of his usual crucifix, he holds an oval plaque bearing a relief of the Stará Boleslav Palladium (an icon of the Madonna and Child made of Corinthian copper; originally a gift from St. Methodius to St. Ludmila, grandmother of St Wenceslas, in the 9th century).
As confessor of the queen of Bohemia he refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. At the behest of King Wenceslaus of Bohemia he was thrown from the Charles Bridge in Prague and drowned. John of Nepomuk is patron saint of bridges.
His figure is often encountered in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. He is usually portrayed with a halo of five stars, commemorating the stars that hovered over the Vltava River on the night of his murder, also is said that the five stars are supposed to symbolize the five letters of Latin word "tacet", which means "silent".
Other attributes are a priestly dress, the palm of martyrs and a large crucifix, to which he is usually looking.
As additional figures there are often one of more little angels, respectively indicating silence by a finger over the lips, with a crucifix and with the bible.
There are several sites listing statues of Saint John of Nepomuk:
Your banner here? Click for information.