Broken Roland

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Roland statue on the market in Zerbst

The Zerbster Roland in Zerbst / Anhalt is a Roland figure first mentioned in 1385 .

Size and description

The total height of the monument is 9 m, the height of the Roland figure is 4 m. The Zerbster Roland puts his right foot on a dog. The interpretation of this symbol is not clearly understood. Some see it as a sign of the unbelief to be fought, others interpret it as a symbol of guilt and atonement. In addition to plate armor, he wears a splendid belt, bracers and greaves and gauntlet. He has no headgear on his shoulder-length curly hair.

In 1666 the Roland was placed in a baroque shield house. In 1848 Carl Alexander von Heideloff (Nuremberg artist and curator) designed a house with a canopy and finial in the neo-Gothic style . The former double-headed eagle on the shield has been transformed into a single-headed eagle.

  • Roland in Zerbst with sword and shield

  • Roland with right foot on a dog

  • Wide gorgeous belt with an angel playing a lute on the belt buckle

  • Zerbst Roland 2005

  • Roland on postage stamp of the GDR

history

There is documentary evidence of a wooden Roland on the market in Zerbst since 1385. The Roland in Zerbst is the third oldest in Germany. Only the Roland statues in Bremen and Halberstadt are even older . In 1445 the wooden figure was replaced by a Roland made of Bernburg sandstone . The creator was Master Curd from Zerbst. The similarity to the Bremen Roland is recognizable. Both wear armor and a belt with an angel playing the lute.

Zerbst Roland 1945

Zerbst was heavily bombed on April 16, 1945, and the Roland was also damaged. The figure was restored in 1980 and, according to the templates from the 19th century, surrounded with an iron fence.

Traditions around the Roland

The Zerbster Rolandbrüder eV association has set itself the goal of maintaining and preserving historical objects in the city. It was founded in 1996 and has been instrumental in reviving historical traditions in the city.

In 1981 the Zerbster Rolandlauf was held for the first time . In the meantime, the run has a permanent place in the state rankings calendar in Saxony-Anhalt. The route leads over 25 km around the location of the Roland.

literature

  • Tourist information city of Zerbst / Anhalt: The Roland in Zerbst / Anhalt.

See also

Web links

Commons : Zerbster Roland  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Description of the Zerbster Roland on the homepage of the city of Zerbst

Coordinates: 51 ° 58 ′ 7.6 ″  N , 12 ° 5 ′ 3.7 ″  E