Herkules walczący z centaurem, Sandstone sculpture at National Museum terrace in Szczecin, Poland
Hercules Wrestling with a Centaur is a sandstone work showing two bodies caught in motion within a dramatic pose. The piece follows a classical-modern style and stands roughly 2.4 meters (8 feet) tall on the National Museum terrace.
The work was created in 1916 by sculptor Ludwig Manzel and came about through a consular commission. It originally stood at another location in the city before later being moved to its present spot.
The sculpture draws on ancient myth to show a moment of struggle that appears often in public art across Europe. People gather here to see how the past is expressed through forms and figures in stone.
The work sits on the National Museum terrace and can be viewed daily when the museum is open. The location allows visitors to combine their viewing with nearby attractions in central Szczecin.
Experts debate to this day which mythological figures are shown, as interpretations of the two wrestlers differ. This ambiguity makes the work interesting for visitors, as each person can recognize their own reading of what unfolds.
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