Eros Statue in London

Eros Statue in London, England
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Eros Statue in London, England
Photograph © London Tourist Board

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Eros Statue


Official name:Shaftesbury Monument
Piccadilly Circus, London, England, The West End SW1 United KingdomPrint this page   •   Share this page   •   Map This

Sometimes it's hard to convince people of the truth. Try telling a New Yorker that the "Statue of Liberty" is really called "Liberty Enlightening The World" and you'll understand the difficulty involved in telling people this isn't Eros the pagan god of love. In reality, the archer atop this bronze fountain is an archer symbolizing the virtue charity. Appropriate enough, since it is dedicated to Lord Shaftesbury, for whom affordable housing was a pet cause. But Londoners have adopted it as a symbolic link to their pre-Roman Druidian past and keep calling it Eros.

Quick Facts
Notes
  • 1994: A drunken tourist scales the fountain, damaging the statue. Please don't climb the art.
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There are 10 comments.

  Hmmm I actually proposed to my wife under the statue of Eros in London at the stroke of midnight....I was told by the locals that that was the tradition for good luck and happiness in a marrage.

Karl - Monday, October 6th, 2008 @ 11:09am  

  My Great Grandfather was the head man and moulder of the statue. I am trying to find info on Thomas Edward Reynolds...maybe Barbera has some ideas...the two men would have known each other well.

Julie Davis-Hall - Friday, November 16th, 2007 @ 2:46pm  

  All i can say is wow! it looks amazing. i met my husband there, it was sooo romantic, and we have been unseperable since. i hope if you get to go there Eros will bring you the same luck as he has me.

Jazz - Saturday, February 18th, 2006 @ 10:46am  

  More than just a statue it is a meeting place, an oportunity to sit down and soak up the fact that you are actually sitting in the centre of London gazing at 2 of the most walked upon areas in the city: Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. A stones throw away from many theatres it is one place I have stopped, looked and listened on each and every one of my 20 trips to London in the past 17 consecutive years. Cheers from a Canuk who will continue my annual visits until I die.

John Tracey - Monday, January 23rd, 2006 @ 1:31pm  

  We xent to to London with our school in October. We 've done an eveningwalk and our terminal point was eros, it's a beautiful statue!!

- Monday, October 31st, 2005 @ 8:49am  

  A lovely statue that is unique in the world. (funnily enough there is an exact life-size replica of 'Eros' in the Adelaide Museum of South Australia)

Mal Walker - Sunday, March 13th, 2005 @ 1:48am  

  Hello. I dont know if anyone will respond now (particularly Barbara?) but I am doing research into modern representations of eros/cupid. Does anyone know any details of WHY this figure was chosen in particular-because even though it was not intended to be cupid, it does bare striking similarities (the wings, the bow and arrow). there is obviously a chain of thought associated with cupid in the creation of this figure. Thanks. Lizzie

lizzie - Wednesday, January 26th, 2005 @ 11:54am  

  Of course I would rate this a 5* +. My Great, Great, Great Uncle Sir Alfred Gilbert created this statue. Not only is it not the Pagan God Eros, It also is not facing the direction Sir Alfred wanted. I am in search of a replica of this statue. Anyone know where I may find one?

Barbara J. A. - Monday, December 13th, 2004 @ 10:31am  

  I went to London in July of 2004. I visited Piccadilly Circus on a few times. I think it's a great statue. And I, and the group I was with, saw some people in their 50's making out by the statue. Good times for them.

Atticus J. - Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004 @ 7:19pm  

  From my stay in England (1957 through 1960) I seem to remember that some locals were intent on scaling the statue on New Years Eve after having several alcoholic beverage.

Dave - Wednesday, October 20th, 2004 @ 5:39pm  

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