Copernicus' sculptures and monuments

Have you ever wondered how many sculptures of Nicolaus Copernicus there are in Poland? Where are they and why? We will try to answer these questions. Below you will find some examples of the monuments. 

Warsaw

The most famous of all monuments „The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument” is located in Warsaw on Krakowskie Przedmieście street. The bronze statue of a Polish astronomer holding a compass and armillary sphere was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1822. It was funded by public donations and by the scientist and philosopher Stanisław Staszic. Replicas of Warsaw's Copernicus monument stand in Montreal and Chicago. 

Toruń 

The oldest Copernicus’ monument in the world is located in Cathedral Basilicia of Sants Johns in Toruń. 

Nowadays it is difficult to imagine Toruń without the Copernicus’s Monument standing near the Old City Town Hall. The bronze statue of the astronomer stands on a granite pedestal bearing a Latin inscription in gold letters, which translates as: ‘Nicolaus Copernicus of Toruń, moved the Earth, held the Sun and the heavens’. Garbed in a professorial gown, Copernicus holds an astronomical instrument in his left hand, the astrolabe. Beneath the pedestal there is a well with a dolphin; from the dolphin’s mouth, situated above the well, flows water. The well was built to commemorate Toruń’s first water supply system, allegedly installed by Copernicus. Today, the monument is an important meeting point for both the townspeople and visitors.

Copernicus advertises A1 motorway on the Toruń New Market.

Olsztyn 

There is the Copernicus’ bench in the Old Town in Olsztyn. The atronomer is sitting on the bench and holding armillary sphere and a paper scroll in his hands. He is wearing a long coat. The sculpture was made by Urszula Szmyt to commemorate 530th anniversary of Copernicus’ birth.

Cracow

The Copernicus’ monument was built in order to celebrate 500th anniversary of restoration of University of Cracow. It shows the astronomer wearing student’s clothes. 

Krosno

Łódź

Copernicus’ monument is standing in front of the Copernicus’ hospital in Łódź.

Poznań

Wrocław

Built in 1974 in Wrocław, this statue of Nicolaus Copernicus was erected in memory of the Polish scientist on the 500th anniversary of his birth. 

Bydgoszcz 

Wieliczka

Over life size stone (salt / halite) statue of Nicolaus Copernicus is located in Wieliczka Salt Mine in chamber of his name. It was made in 1973 by artist Wladyslaw Hapek. This statue is really simple one, so even the clothes are not so recognizable. Nicolaus himself has in his hands an astronomical object- the Sun or the Earth.

Co- author: Justyna Kuwał, 2R