The Statue of Eros
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The Statue of Eros is the acquired title for a monument in Piccadilly Circus, London, England.
[edit] The Statue
The column was built in 1892 by Alfred Gilbert to commemorate the life of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury who was a famous Victorian politician and philanthropist, and was initially called the 'Shaftesbury Monument.'
The Eros figure is made out of aluminum and is set atop a bronze fountain, which was the inspiration for the marine motifs Gilbert carved on the statue.
[edit] Trivia
- Although known as the Statue of Eros, the figure itself is actually of the Angel of Christian Charity. When changing the name from the Shaftesbury Monument, the childlike statue complete with bow was mistaken for the Greek god of love, and since then the name has stuck.
