West End

Statue of Eros

Placed in the centre of Piccadilly Circus the statue in front of you is of Eros the god of love, and it has quite a history. So called because it was a favoured meeting place for lovers, the sculptor Alfred Gilbert erected the statue in 1893. Acclaimed as one of London's most beautiful and decorative statues, Eros was in fact built as a memorial for the famous philanthropist Lord Shaftesbury. The statue was originally called the Shaftesbury Monument but was changed strikingly and imaginatively to Eros.The elegant aluminium Eros rises gloriously above a bronze fountain. He is shooting an arrow - hence the play on words beloved by the Victorians - "Shaft - Bury"....to remind us that the statue was originally erected to commemorate Lord Shaftsbury.
JB

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