Statue of Constantine the Great, York

The Statue of Constantine the Great is a bronze statue depicting the Roman Emperor Constantine I seated on a throne, commissioned by York Civic Trust and designed by the sculptor Philip Jackson. It was unveiled in 1998 and is situated on Minster Yard, outside York Minster. It commemorates the accession of Constantine as Roman Emperor in AD 306 on this site, after the death of his father Constantius Chlorus in York.[1]

Not to be confused with the Roman, marble Head of Constantine the Great, York in the Yorkshire Museum

Statue of Constantine the Great
ArtistPhilip Jackson
Year1998
LocationMinster Yard, York Minster, York, UK

Description

The statue depicts a seated Constantine wearing military dress. His right arm is outstretched behind him and his left holds the pommel of a sword, the tip of which is shown to be broken. A legend inscribed on the base reads "Constantine by this sign conquer". This phrase is a translation of the Latin in hoc signo vinces; a reference to a passage from the historian Eusebius of Caesaria, who recounts how Constantine was marching with his army and looked up to the sun and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words "(ἐν) τούτῳ νίκα" ("In this, conquer").[2][3]

Interactions with the statue

Yorkshire Day

The statue was one of several in York gagged by the Yorkshire Party on Yorkshire Day (1 August) 2016 as part of a campaign to highlight the lack of devolved government in the region.[4]

On Yorkshire Day 2018 the statue was dressed in a flat cap and given two chocolate themed props: a giant Kit Kat and Terry's Chocolate Orange.[5]

Theft of sword

The statue's sword was stolen in September 2016.[6] A homeless man, John Flanagan, was prosecuted for the damage – the sword had been kicked from the statue and then brandished by Flanagan before he deposited it in a drain.[7] The restoration of the statue by York Civic Trust was undertaken in November 2016 and cost £783.[7][1]

Coronavirus pandemic

The statue was found to be wearing a protective face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

'Culture War'

In June 2020 the Daily Telegraph reported that the statue was 'under review' following complaints received by York Minster about Constantine's support of slavery in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.[9] In subsequent articles in The Guardian and the York Press it was reported that the York Minster had not received any complaints about the statue and that it was not specifically under review.[10][11] The Guardian described the story as an "imaginary statue scandal" as part of a culture war.[10]

In CD Projekt RED's card game, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, Nilfgaardian deck leader Emperor Jan Calveit's artwork by Lorenzo Mastroianni was inspired by this statue.

See also

References
  1. "Constantine gets his sword back – at a cost of £1,000". York Mix. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  2. Eusebius. "1.28". Vita Constantini (PDF). p. 944. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. Haaren, John H.; Poland, A. B. (2006) [1904]. Famous Men of Rome. Yesterday's Classics. p. 229. ISBN 978-159915-046-8.
  4. "Constantine gagged in campaign stunt in York". York Press. 1 August 2016.
  5. "Emperor gets new clothes! City statue enjoys Yorkshire Day makeover". York Mix. 1 August 2018.
  6. "Sword stolen from York Minster Constantine statue". BBC News. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  7. Laycock, M (2 December 2016). "Man left with bill for taking statue's sword". York Press. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  8. "Even Constantine the Great is taking coronavirus precautions". YorkPress. 25 March 2020.
  9. Swerling, Gabriella (29 June 2020). "York Minsters' Roman Emperor statue 'looked at' following complains". Daily Telegraph.
  10. Nosheen Iqbal (5 July 2020). "Emperor Constantine's statue and the culture war that wasn't". The Guardian.
  11. Chloe Laversuch (30 June 2020). "'Constantine the Great statue is NOT under threat' - but church is reviewing all monuments". York Press.
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