Did you have considered sometimes, to which purposes served the squares, what was to be found there or who could be seen there? Most of people could have an idea that the squares served, first of all, for walkings. A square could be a place for meetings and gathering of people. From time immemorial, it is starting point (point of departure) or orientation point serving for meetings of citizens. To tell the truth, it could serve also for various demonstrations, celebrations, entertainments, etc. So, the square became a natural centre of each town, where historical buildings and monuments, information tables, as well as the shops or restaurants are to be found. No doubt, each visitor could be attracted with unusual phenomenon of  such places, as plague or St.Trinity Column could be.

Plague column is, for sure, a symbol of memory, protection against plague, as well as an expression of gratitude that the disaster, such as 30-years war, military disturbances or just plague epidemies, which caught the whole Europe, including Slovakia (on break of 17th and 18th centuriesa), were outlived. Even the town of Banska Štiavnica was struck, where the death asked for, as a tax, nearly half of living inhabitants. At that time period, the town, including surrounding communities, had six thousands people (for the comparison: at present, Banska Štiavnica has 12 thousands of persons).

Originally, simple plague column was constructed by Śtiavnica - mayor, in honour of a fact that local plague epidemy (within 1710-1711) was finished. Later, during 1755-1764, this column was substituted by group of statues, made by builder Dionysus Stanetti (born on 2nd March 1710 in Dolní Benešov, Opava district, and died in 1767 in Kremnica) and Charles Holzknecht, artistic stone-cutter. So, these men constructed on St.Trinity Square monumental Baroque group of statues with its own canopy architecture. St.Trinity Column is consecrated to St.Trinity, i.e. to the Father, Son, and St. Spirit. This fact is confirmed with a reality that the statues represent portraits of six Saint Patrons and protectors of the town and miners. So, the portraits introduce the figures of St.Barbara, St.Catherine, St.Frank Xaverius (protector of Jesuits´ Order), St.Joseph Calasan (protector of Piarist Order), St.Rochus (protector of beggars) and St.Sebastian, martyr. All plague columns had the function of „spiritual bridge“ between sky and the earth, with the help of this, the entreaties of standard persons were sent upstairs, in order to save them against this terrible disease.

Now, this monumental St.Trinity Column in Banska Štiavnica forms one of dominants not only of historical square, but also the whole town, registered (written) in survey of UNESCO Heritage Survey.

Text: Pavel Heintz

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Poto: author, flickr.com