Achilles Statue, Hyde Park

London: statue of Achilles

 

From:

 

londondailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/06/achilles-statue-hyd...

 

This statue is in Hyde Park, and was built as a tribute to Arthrur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington by "the Women of England". Created in 1822 it reads:

 

To Arthur, Duke of Wellington,

and his brave companions in arms

this statue of Achilles

cast from cannons won at the victories

of Salmanaca, Vittoria, Toulouse and Waterloo

is inscribed by their countrymen

 

It was the very first statue of a naked man on public display in London. Originally anatomically correct, the fig leaf was added later to save blushes although it has been chipped off twice - in 1870 and 1961.

Done