The Sobieski's Mace
What comes to mind when you think of King Jan III Sobieski?
Certainly, his triumphs at Chocim and Vienna, or perhaps the figure of his wife, Marysieńka. However, after visiting this monument, officially named the Sobieski Mace, it will begin to associate with an egg beater. But first, a bit of history.
In the early 2000s, there were plans in Wilanów to build a city hall along with a surrounding park and two monuments. Eventually, only two monuments were built - one depicting King Jan III Sobieski with his wife and dogs, and the other shaped like his mace, with which he defeated the Turks and Tatars.
According to the designer Tadeusz Dębski, the monument was supposed to be a 72-meter tower housing a cultural and entertainment center and a revolving restaurant. Unfortunately, the spatial development plan allowed only a 9-meter building for this area, so the Wilanów commune council did not approve this project. Eventually, the monument was given its current shape, resembling a modern egg beater. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and unique sculpture worth visiting. Its pedestal is adorned with 12 stars covered in 18-carat gold, and the flails are decorated with balls.
If someone would like to see the original mace, which once belonged to Jan III, it is located in the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Padua.
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Photo Luciano Fincato / Fototeca Centro Studi Antoniani