Mermaid Monument in Warsaw
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The Mermaid Monument is Warsaw’s icon. It was made by Konstanty Hegel in 1855. At ground level under her stone pedestal there is a fountain that burbles and reminds passersbys of the connection with the Vistula River. The mermaid has been the symbol of Warsaw for centuries.
There are many legends describing how the mermaid came to symbolize Warsaw. The most popular version tells that a man named Wars rescued the mermaid named Sawa. Sawa vowed to protect the city for Wars' kindness. Warsawa became the name of the city and the mermaid is presented holding a shield in one hand and a sword aloft in the other.
