Warsaw Mermaid

1
2
3
The Mermaid has featured in Warsaw’s coat of arms for many
centuries. Between 1811 and 1915, when Poland was partitioned,
Warsaw’s emblem was officially banned. Yet the Varsovians
increasingly started to place mermaid images in various parts of the
city. As a result, Warsaw now boasts a great number of these images
displayed in gates, balconies, stained glass windows, on facades,
street lamps, neon signs, signboards, and institutional logos.
The Warsaw Mermaid also features in many statues, sculptures and
reliefs. The Varsovians are emotionally attached to them, which
is even reflected in the Polish language. After all, in mythology
and literature these half-female, half-fish creatures are depicted
as mermaids while the symbol of Warsaw in Polish is referred to
by means of the diminutive syrenka (little mermaid).
The coat of arms of Warsaw
Warsaw’s first coat of arms, which dates back to the early 15th century, depicted a half-human, half-bird creature carrying a sword and
a shield. Its body was covered with scales. Over the years, it was
gradually turning into a female, though it still looked like a winged
monster with finned legs. It was only in the 18th century that it
was replaced by a shapely half-woman half-fish. The current coat of
arms was officially approved in 1938.
How the image of the Warsaw mermaid evolved over the centuries is shown on the door of St. John’s cathedral in the Old Town
(ul. Świętojańska 8)
The Mermaid in the oldest seal of the city of the Old
Warsaw (15th c.). A collection of maps and plans of
Warsaw, from the Collection of the State Archive of
the Capital City of Warsaw (APW)
The coat of arms of Warsaw
WARSZAWA
4
5
6
7
Warsaw Mermaid Legend
The Warsaw Mermaid legend is known in several versions. According to the most common one told by Warsaw guides, a Mermaid,
who had swum up the Vistula river from the Baltic sea, came out on
the riverbank near Warsaw’s Old Town to have a rest. She liked the
place so much that she decided to stay there. Soon afterwards, local
fishermen discovered that someone had been churning up waves in
the river, tangling their nets and releasing the fish. They wanted to
punish the offender but they when they heard the Mermaid singing,
they were overwhelmed by her voice.
A shrewd merchant soon heard about the Mermaid and when
he had realized how much money he would make by having her
perform at fairs, he decided to kidnap her. He imprisoned her in
a shed without any water access. The Mermaid’s crying was heard by
a fisherman’s son, who with the help of his mates came to her rescue. She pledged to return the favor whenever her saviors were in
need. And since then, the Mermaid, armed with a sword and shield,
has been protecting the city of Warsaw and its residents.
Tenement house at 8/8A Kościelna Street
8
9
10
11
12
Mermaid Statue in the Old Town Square
The statue was made by sculptor Konstanty Hegel and is now
over 150 years old. For the first 70 years it stood on the square
but later it changed its venue several times, which is why it was
dubbed a walking statue. The Mermaid Statue returned to its
original location but, sadly, was destroyed many times by vandals.
As a result, having been replaced by a copy, the restored statue
was moved to the nearby Historical Museum of Warsaw, which is
housed in 11 historical buildings in the Old Town Square.
13
14
15
16
Mermaid Statue at Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie
According to the original design, the 20-meter statue was to be
made of glass and placed on a pillar submerged in the Vistula river
midway between its banks. Due to technical problems, that idea
was abandoned and the statue was eventually made of bronze.
It was designed by outstanding Polish sculptor Ludwika Nitschowa
and unveiled in 1939. Nitchsowa’s model for the mermaid was
Krystyna Krahelska – a girl scout and poet. Krahelska died on the
second day of the uprising, which earned her a legendary status.
Other well-known Mermaids
Picasso’s Mermaid
– Picasso visited Warsaw in
1948. He was shown Le Corbusier-style apartment blocks that
were still under construction in
the district of Koło. In one of the
apartments he spontaneously
drew a large-sized mermaid
(1.8 m. x 1.7 m.) holding a hammer instead of a shield. The married couple, who later moved into
that apartment, soon grew weary of all those who wanted to see
the drawing, so they had it painted over in 1953. The image was
recorded only in photographs. In 2006 the Babaryba.pl online store
recycled the story of Picasso’s Mermaid by putting its image on souvenir mugs and shirts.
Syrena automobile – the first mass-produced car of Polish design
in communist Poland. Passenger cars and pick-ups were manufactured from 1957 to 1983. The two-stroke engine made a lot of noise
and exhaust fumes; yet for a long time the Syrena was considered
a luxury.
Warszawskie Syrenki „Machiny” (Machina’s Warsaw Mermaids)
– the annual trophy awarded since 2008 by Machina – a pop culture magazine. Its first three winners were women: Edyta Górniak,
Monika Olejnik and Krystyna Janda. The 2011 trophy was awarded
to Łukasz Garlicki.
Teatr Syrena (The Syrena Theater) – established after World War II
in Łódź, which for a short while served as a de facto capital of Poland
because Warsaw was in ruins. Two years later, the theater moved to
a Warsaw building on Litewska Street, which is its current location.
Sculptures, Mermaids on facades and in artistic metalwork,
Mermaid made of electronic waste
1.
2.
3.
4.
18
17
19
Old Town Market Square
ul. Świętojańska 8 – Cathedral Basilica of the Martyrdom of St. John the Babtist
plac Defilad 1 – Palace of Culture and Science
The Mermaid as the sign of the Warsaw Fire Guard (1916), Korotyński Collection,
from the Collection of the State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw (APW)
5. ul. Prądzyńskiego 12/14 – The Warsaw Exhibition Centre EXPO XXI
6. Waste bin
7. ul. Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie
8. ul. Grzybowska 79 – Warsaw Rising Museum
9. Old Town Market Square 1/3 – the wind rose on the roof
10.ul. Piwna 20/26 – signboard of the Varsaviana Book House
11.plac Zamkowy 10
12.Street posts
13.ul. Odolańska 48
14.ul. Świętojańska 11
15.ul. Szeroki Dunaj – the watering place in the middle of a street
16.ul. Świętojańska 8 – Cathedral Basilica of the Martyrdom of St. John the Babtist
17.ul. Karowa – Markiewicz Viaduct
18.ul. Krzywickiego – Eastern facade of the Rapid Filters factory building
19.ul. Senatorska 14 – Gate in front of Blank Palace
20.ul. Szeroki Dunaj 13
21.The Mermaid in a New Year’s Day postcard (the 19th / 20th c.), Korotyński Collection,
from the Collection of the State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw (APW)
22.ul. Puławska 113a – Królikarnia Park
23.ul. Piwna 31/33 – signboard of the Museum of Pharmacy
24.plac Defilad 1 – mermaid made of electronic waste
in front of the Museum of Technology
25.ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 41 – dressmakers’ guild tenement house
26.plac Zamkowy 10
27.Aleje Jerozolimskie – Poniatowski Bridge
20
Warsaw
Tourist Information
[email protected]
21
24
25
official tourist website of Warsaw
Warsaw
Mermaids
•
•
•
•
www.warsawtour.pl
Publisher: Warsaw Tourist Office (Stołeczne Biuro Turystyki)
Photos: Stołeczne Biuro Turystyki, Archiwum Państwowe m.st. Warszawy, Babaryba.pl, Teresa Witkowska
Edition II, Warsaw 2012
Free copy
22
23
26
27
Warsaw Mermaid legend
Warsaw coat of arms
Mermaid statues
Other Warsaw Mermaids