At the intersection of Oak Street and Banna, in the heart of the Belgian capital, is one of the world's most famous sculptures, and without a doubt the most popular attraction of Brussels - a fountain "Manneken Pis".It is a small statue of a naked little boy who pees in the pool.Although similar to the composition found in other cities around the world (for example, Gerardsbergene, Hasselt, Ghent has its own "Manneken Pis"), near Brussels bronze sculpture every year thousands and thousands of tourists.Undoubtedly, the Belgian "Manneken Pis" - the most famous in the world.
history
Many legends goes around the origin of the statue, and the most common of them is connected with the name of Duke Godfrey III.Grimbergenskoy During the war, when the army of the Third monarch Gottfried Leuven fought with the enemy, his two year old son (this was the third Duke Godfrey) hung in a basket on the tree to view the future ruler encouraged citizens.Child allegedly urinated on top of warriors who fought under the tree, and they lost the battle.
There is another version.Brussels in the 14th century was under siege, the enemy sought to lay explosives and blow up the city walls.However, they are followed by a little boy named Julian.The baby peed on the burning fuse, thereby extinguished ammunition laid by the enemy and saved the city.
But there is another story that tells of the origin of the sculpture "Manneken Pis".One day, a rich merchant went missing little boy.We gathered a large group of people to find it, search every corner of the city.And the child found to write in the garden.Merchant was immensely happy, and as a thank local residents decided at this point to establish a fountain.
author of the sculpture "Manneken Pis»
Where truth and fiction, is now hardly anyone knows.It is known only that its present form statue acquired thanks to the skill of the court sculptor Jerome Duquesnoy mannerist in 1619.And since 1695, it has repeatedly abducted.Once this occurred during the period of Napoleon's troops in Brussels, and the last time the sculpture "Manneken Pis" was stolen in the 1960s, after which it was, as before, replaced by a copy.In 1908, on the pursuit of the kidnappers of the statue was even filmed a silent French film.
Traditions
With this fountain is connected a lot of various interesting traditions.For example, during the holidays it decided to replace the water jet beer or wine.Also, from time to time a statue "Manneken Pis" is dressed in a suit.The first outfit to sculpture as the story goes, was established in 1968 by the Bavarian Elector Maximilian Emmanuel, and since then it has become not only a tradition, but in a kind of honoring guests.
Change costumes
On lattice Fountain month posted a list of all the orders that "Manneken Pis" will change during the month.Several hundred different costumes wardrobe includes statues.All clothes are changed strictly according to the list compiled by the non-profit organization with the name "Friends of Manneken Pis".As a rule, change of clothing at ceremonies played by a brass band, and the action it turns into a real celebration.Not far from the sculpture, in the central town square, the Royal Museum, which exposition orders with more than eight copies.Many costumes are a traditional costume of the countries whose citizens visit the Belgian capital as a tourist destination.Other garments - a uniform of representatives of different professions, the military services, associations and so on.
varied wardrobe
During that not only clothed statue of "Manneken Pis"!For example, after the six-month presidency of the EU Hungarian boy dressed in a Hungarian hussar costume.In 2004, in order to attract attention to the problems of child soldiers at the initiative of organization Amnesty International he was dressed in a soldier's uniform.Try on the boy also presented the international space mission, Russian cosmonaut suit, Santa Claus outfit, apparel urologist, form Cadet Force of the United States, Judo wrestler costume, costumes Dracula and the evil spirit of the Incas and many others.
Similar statues
should be noted that in an effort to keep the glory of the fountain in the city of Brussels established several similar compositions.So, in 1987, not far from "Manneken Pis", at the end of the alley fidelity put "wrote a girl."According to one version, the statue was a parody pair of world famous symbol of the city.Author sculpture - Denis Adrian Debuvri.The composition is a naked girl who wrote in a tank mounted below.Statue for security is in a niche, which is enclosed by a lattice.
in the center of Brussels, there is another similar sculpture.This bronze statuette mongrel dog pissing made in full size.The animal is depicted with a raised paving pillar rear paw.This composition was created in 1999 by sculptor Tom Frantsenom.The dog of mixed breed, as evidenced by the author, symbolizes the union of different cultures in Brussels.See the sculpture "Pissing dog" can be far away from the fountain "to write the girl" and "Manneken Pis", which served as the idea for its creation.Here it is, the Belgian art!
