Imperia, Concrete statue at harbor entrance in Konstanz, Germany
Imperia is a rotating concrete sculpture at the harbor entrance in Konstanz, Germany. It stands 30 feet (9 meters) tall and weighs 18 tons.
Sculptor Peter Lenk created the work as a reference to the Council of Constance, which took place between 1414 and 1418. During this assembly, Martin V was elected pope and the reformer Jan Hus was condemned to death by fire.
The figure turns slowly on its base and shows a naked woman holding a small male figure in each hand. These men represent a pope and an emperor, showing the courtesan's power over both worlds.
The sculpture completes one full turn every four minutes and can be easily seen from the harbor. A walk around the base allows you to view the figure from different angles.
Lenk installed the monument secretly in 1993 on private railway company land without asking the city for permission. Authorities discovered the installation only after it was already finished and standing at the harbor.
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