Friedensengel, Munich

Friedensengel is the monument before you: an open classical temple supports a tall column, crowned by a gilded figure of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. The entire structure rises about 38 metres, while the statue itself measures 6 metres and spans 5 metres across the wings. The monument was created from 1896 to 1899 by Heinrich Düll, Max Heilmaier and Georg Pezold for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the peace concluded at Frankfurt after the Franco-Prussian War.

Look at the temple’s supporting figures and its relief medallions: the decoration brings together scenes from the labours of Herakles with portraits of rulers and military figures connected to Bavaria and Prussia. Inside the open hall, mosaic images represent war, victory, peace and prosperity. The foundation stone was laid on 10 May 1896, and the monument was unveiled on 16 July 1899.

In 1981, the statue was taken down after it became unstable; restoration followed, and it returned in 1983 with a replacement leg and replacement wings. The monument stands above Luitpoldterrasse within the Maximiliansanlagen, and its familiar name is Friedensengel, meaning Angel of Peace.