The Warsaw Mermaid

Warszawa · Poland · Urban site

The mermaid of the Vistula was caught and shown for money. The fisherman who freed her was given a promise: the sword guards the city.

In the middle of the Old Town square stands a mermaid with a raised sword and shield, and she stands there because of a promise. The legend says she came up the Vistula and stayed; her singing kept the fishermen from their nets, and a rich merchant had her caught and shut in a shed to be shown for money. A young fisherman heard her crying at night, got in and set her free. In return she promised to guard the town and its people for good, and asked the Baltic for a sword and a shield so that she could keep her word. Warsaw put her in its coat of arms. Konstanty Hegel's statue of 1855 has stood on the square ever since, with interruptions, and is the only guard the city has never relieved.

FAQ

Where is The Warsaw Mermaid located?

The Warsaw Mermaid is in Warszawa, Poland.

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