Plague Column (Maribor)

Plague Column at Main Square in Maribor (marble, 1743)

The Plague Column (Slovene: Kužno znamenje) is a monument at Main Square (Glavni trg) of the city of Maribor, northeastern Slovenia, erected by "pious burghers" in gratitude for the end of a 1680 plague epidemic that had claimed a third of the city's population. The original monument was built in 1681. The current one is a 1743 replacement, the first work by the German sculptor Joseph Straub in Maribor. It is considered his most monumental work, and one of the best examples of baroque art in Slovenia.

The column is made entirely of white marble, and consists of an ornate rectangular pedestal that supports a Corinthian column bearing a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary, crowned with twelve stars and standing on the moon (a reference to Revelation 12:1).^[1] At its base, the column is surrounded by six saints, to which the townspeople prayed for intercession:^[2]

• St. Francis of Assissi
• St. Sebastian
• St. James
• St. Anthony of Padua
• St. Roch
• St. Francis Xavier

The monument was later surrounded by an ornamental stone fence.

References

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City Municipality of Maribor Subdivisions City districts Brezje–Dogoše–Zrkovci Center Ivan Cankar Koroška Vrata Magdalena Nova Vas Pobrežje Radvanje Studenci Tabor Tezno Local communities Bresternica–Gaj Kamnica Limbuš Malečnik–Ruperče Pekre Razvanje Landmarks Angels (statues) Carinthia Street Cathedral Peak Drava Hutter Colony Kalvarija Hill Liberation Monument Main Square Maribor Island Maribor Park Market Hall Plague Memorial Pyramid Old Bridge (List of bridges in Maribor) Railway Station Revolution Square Strossmayer Street Trieste Street University of Maribor Zamorc Hotel Castles, palaces, fortresses Betnava Mansion Jewish Tower Judgement Tower Orešje Castle Račji Dvor Mansion Town Castle Town Hall Upper Maribor Castle Vetrinje Mansion Water Tower Places of worship Basilica of Our Mother of Mercy Capuchin Church Cathedral Synagogue Settlements Administrative centre: Maribor Bresternica Celestrina Dogoše Gaj nad Mariborom Grušova Hrastje Hrenca Jelovec Kamnica Košaki Laznica Limbuš Malečnik Meljski Hrib Metava Nebova Pekel Pekre Počehova Razvanje Ribniško Selo Rošpoh Ruperče Šober Srednje Trčova Vinarje Vodole Vrhov Dol Za Kalvarijo Zgornji Slemen Zrkovci Former settlements Dobrava Ledine Marija Brezje Nova Vas Rošpoh Spodnje Radvanje Za Gradom Zgornje Radvanje Sports AKK Branik Maribor AVK Branik Maribor HDK Maribor Ljudski vrt NK Tezno Maribor NK Maribor NK Železničar Maribor OK Nova KBM Branik RK Maribor Branik Tabor Hall ŽNK Maribor Culture Academic Choir Aquarium Carmina Slovenica Lent Festival Maribor Slovene National Theatre Obzorja Publishing House Philharmonic Orchestra Račji Dvor Open Air Museum Radio City Slava Klavora Theatre Notable people List of people from Maribor

Coordinates: 46°33′27.15″N 15°38′43.05″E / 46.5575417°N 15.6452917°E / 46.5575417; 15.6452917