Orlandos’ Column – Dubrovnik – Croatia is located on Stradun, in front of the church of St Blaise. On the same location once stood the pillar of shame.
Orlandos’ Column was built in 1417. It is a stone sculpture depicting Roland, a knight in Charlemagne’s army, the central character of the famous Old French epic The Song of Roland.
Similar monuments have appeared all over Europe. According to the legend, Roland helps the people of Dubrovnik defeat invaders in the Middle Ages. Saracen pirates attack Dubrovnik at the end of the 8th century and the city defended by Roland. The Column builds on and as a sign of that gratitude and respect.
Orlandos’ column today has an important ceremonial place. During the year, the column has Croatian flag decorations . During the feast of St Blaise the decor with flags change to those that wear the image of a lion. While the raising and lowering of the Libertas flag it marks the beginning and the end of the Dubrovnik Summer Games.
Orlando’s Pillar is the work of the local sculptor Antun Dubrovčanin and master sculptor Bonino di Milano from 1418.
The column pragmatically served different purposes as the forearm of Orlando was the standard measure of the Ragusan cubit, lakat. Shown more accurately by a line in the base of the column. From atop of this column, public proclamations usually made way throughout the square . In addition, a well known site for the display of public punishments. During the opening and closing ceremony of Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Orlando has the center piece role. Today as hundreds of years back, the unchanged role of Orlando as he still proudly guards a banner hoisted on the supported mast above the column.
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