Sigismund's Column

Sigismund's Column, originally erected in 1644, is located at Castle Square, Warsaw, Poland and is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks as well as the first secular monument in the form of a column in modern history. The column and statue commemorate King Sigismund III Vasa, who in 1596 had moved Poland's capital from Kraków to Warsaw. It is part of the Historic Centre of Warsaw, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on September 1-5, 1980. On top of the Corinthian column's socle is a 2.75 m (9 ft) tall bronze sculpture of the king wearing armor, a coronation robe, a crown, and an Order of the Golden Fleece medallion across his chest; holding a Latin cross in his left hand and a sabre in his right hand; and placing his right foot on a helmet embellished with ostrich feathers. The Corinthian column formerly was made of red marble and was 8.5 m (28 ft) tall. It is now made of granite and adorned by 4 eagles.