Plague Pillar, Baroque stone sculpture in Main Street, Slovakia.
The Plague Pillar is a 14-meter-high Baroque stone sculpture standing on Main Street in Košice. The monument displays holy figures like Joseph, Sebastian, and Ladislaus around its stone base, with the Virgin Mary crowning its peak.
Built between 1720 and 1723, the column commemorates the end of a devastating plague epidemic that struck Košice in 1710-1711. It was part of a broader movement across Europe to honor survival and recovery from this catastrophe.
The monument displays religious figures like the Virgin Mary at its peak, while the surrounding fence holds statues of saints Gabriel, Elizabeth, and Barbara. This arrangement reflects the religious devotion of the time and made the space a place where people could express their faith.
The monument sits in a central location on Main Street that is easy to reach on foot and has many transportation options nearby. Several parking facilities in the area make it convenient for visitors to explore the surroundings.
Beneath the column lies a hidden chamber containing relics of Saint Valentine, as indicated by a plaque at the base. This detail transforms the monument into more than a memorial - it becomes a site of devotion for those who learn of it.
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