Piccadilly
Circus
- Piccadilly takes it name from a 17th century frilly
collar called a picadil. A dressmaker grew rich
making them and built a house in the vicinity.
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For many years, Piccadilly Circus - at the
junction of five busy streets - has been a
famous London Landmark. At its heart and
backlit by colorful electric displays is a
bronze fountain topped by a figure of a
winged archer. The statue is popularly
called EROS, the pagan god of love, but it
was in fact designed in the 19th century as
a symbol of Christian charity - a monument
to Lord Shaftesbury, a philanthropist.
The famous statue of Eros in Piccadilly
Circus is one of the symbols of London.
It was originally called the Shaftesbury
Monument, having been erected as a
memorial to the philanthropist Lord
Shaftesbury.
The actual figure rises above a
fountain, which is made in bronze, but
Eros is made out of aluminum, at that
time a rare and novel material.
Charring
Cross.
Piccadilly
Circus
Buses:
3, 6, 9, 12, 14, 15, 38, 88 & 159 |