Brandenburger Tor, Quadriga of Victory - Berlin, Germany - Equestrian Statues on Waymarking.com

The Brandenburg Gate was erected between 1788 and 1791 according to designs by Carl Gotthard Langhans whose vision was inspired by the Propyläen in Athens’ Acropolis. Prussian sovereign Friedrich Wilhelm II was looking for a suitable architectural statement to enhance the approach into the Boulevard Unter den Linden. The classical sandstone work is one of the masterpieces of this era and is the only surviving one of 18 previous city portals.

The Brandenburg Gate is crowned with a Quadriga, a sculpture representing Victoria, the Roman the Goddess of Victory, "who brings peace", marching into the city, by Johann Gottfried Schadow. A Quadriga is a chariot drawn by four horses. The Quadriga, which can be spotted from a long distance, was erected on the Gate in the summer of 1793.

In 1806 Napoleon marched triumphantly into Berlin and carried the Quadriga away with him to Paris as a spoil of war. From 1806 to 1814 the statue was held captive in France as a Napoleonic trophy during the years of France and Prussia’s military rivalry for imperial domination. In 1814, after the victorious conclusion of the wars of liberation, Schinkel replaced the olive wreath on the goddess' scepter with an iron cross crowned by the Prussian eagle, changing the figure's interpretation from a courier of peace into a goddess of victory.

The Quadriga saw triumphant parades in Imperial Germany and Nazi Germany until it was finally severely damaged in the Battle for Berlin in May 1945.

In 1950, the relics of the Quadriga was removed at the instigation of the East-Berlin authorities and predominantly destroyed.

On September 27th, 1958, the Quadriga was restored and installed without cross and eagle on the Brandenburg Gate. The Iron Cross was replaced with a wreath. In 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Quadriga was further renovated and the Prussian Iron Cross and eagle appeared again on the pinnacle of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory’s staff!

Information for the preceding text was merged together and edited, from the following three sources: (visit link) (visit link)
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Identity of Rider: Victoria, the Roman the Goddess of Victory Identity of Horse: Brandenburger Tor Name of artist: Johan Gottfried Schadow Date of Dedication: 1793 Material: Bronze Unusual Features: It has four horses pulling a chariot Position: One Hoof Raised

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