The mysterious story of the Manneken Pis fountain in Brussels

Who the Pissing Boy was from Brussels! The famous fountain, symbol, character of many wonderful fairy tales. He was given gifts by titled persons and heads of state. And how many times he was abducted. The origin of this monument is shrouded in mystery. But there are some interesting versions. It is easy to see between tourist shops, it is located on the corner between Etuv Street and Shen Street. But that's why he is standing there, there are no clear explanations.
Today we know him as the "Manneken Pis." The Manneken Peace, as the Brusselsians affectionately call it. But before that he had a different name. His name was "Petit Julien," or "Little Julien." There are many versions related to its origin. Some of them are believable, while others are fantastic.

The most plausible version is associated with a large number of furriers living on Etuv Street in the Middle Ages. Then the kids were asked to urinate on the skin. Ammonia contained in the urine made the skin more elastic. Of course, this cannot be assured for sure, but many researchers are inclined to believe that this statue is a tribute to artisans and those who helped them make their skin firmer.
A common legend tells how the male defended Brussels. The story goes that enemies besieged the city. At some point, they deceived the residents - they pretended to leave, but actually continued to encircle the city with gunpowder. Little Julien noticed this. He saw how the enemies set fire to the wick. He did not have time to think. He immediately urinated on the fire. Grateful townspeople erected a monument to him.
Another legend is related to the evil witch. She caught a little bully who was making a difference at her front door. Enraged, the grandmother cursed him to do this forever. Turned to stone.

Another story tells of the Manneken Peace as a mischievous boy who went missing during city holidays. His frightened parents looked for the boy for several days until they discovered that he was doing the same thing as the modern fountain on the corner of the street. His father was a rich man and, in joy, decided to put the statue exactly on the spot and in the same position in which he found his son.

There is an incredible version of the little Duke of Godfrey. The two-year-old baby was tied to an oak tree during the battle. It all started with the fact that his father died. The vile nobles of the Bertu clan took advantage of this and started the war. The regents of the little duke asked the Count of Flanders for support. The Earl confirmed his help, but his warriors wanted to be sure who they were fighting for. The prince was put in a basket and hung high on a tree. During the battle, Godfrey occasionally got up and urinated on the heads of enemies. The Allies won, organized festivities in Brussels, planted an oak tree in memory of this event. That is why the street next to the Manneken Peace is called Rue de Shen, which means "oak."

The name "Manneken Peace" was first mentioned in city archives from the mid-15th century. First, a stone sculpture was installed, then it was replaced with a bronze one.
We do not know how similar it is to the original, since it has not been preserved. The statue of authorship of Jerome Duchenoy the Elder was first defeated and then abducted in 1817 by a runaway slave. Fortunately, the remains were found and collected. The statue was revived. In its current form, the monument appeared in 1965, after it disappeared again. Searched not for long. The wreckage was hidden in one of the canals of the city, then it was deposited at Maison du Roi in Grand Place.

The boy was stolen and regained many times. This statue disappeared and miraculously returned at all times. In 1745, he was abducted by British soldiers, but he was discovered in the city of Gerardsbergen. Respectable residents expressed gratitude and gave a copy of the missing boy, although they already had their own "Manneken Pis" from 1459. Currently, the dispute between the cities continues. Each of them believes that he has the oldest statue.

In 1747, the boy was stolen by the French grenadiers. They are located in Brussels as part of the troops of Louis XV. The theft of the statue led to great outrage in the city. A murmur and rebellion began. In order to somehow appease the inhabitants and apologize for the inappropriate actions of his soldiers, Louis XV presented the monument with beautiful brocade dress embroidered with gold. The fact is that Brussels had a tradition of dressing a boy for important reasons. To date, the naughty man has more than 800 items of clothing. And the very outfit donated by the French king Louis XV is kept in the museum.

The first clothes that Manneken Peace received were given by Maximilian II Emmanuel, Elector of Bavaria, Governor of the Austrian Netherlands. Today, the “boy” has a large selection of costumes. He can dress like Elvis Presley or cartoon characters. Now he is not the only pissing statue in Brussels. He had a great company - the girl "Jeannekes-Pis" on the street Boucher and the dog "Zinneke-Pis" on the street Rue de Chartres. They all do the same thing as him.

If you find all three statues, you can make a series of wonderful and funny photos. Of all the possible symbols and statues that are in Brussels, the city chose Manneken Peace as its symbol. It reflects boundless folk humor and the freedom-loving soul of the country.

Watch the video: Belgium - The Story Of 'Manneken Pis' (April 2024).