Experiences from the South

Manneken Pis

by Tanchi | 10:46 PM in Photography, Things |

Manneken Pis is a dutch word for Little Peeing Man, and commonly known in French as Petit Julien. Basically, it is a sculpture depicting a small boy with an act of urinating into a fountain's basin.

There are so many Mannekin Pis around the world, but one thing is for sure, the most famous would definitely belong to Belgium's Rue de l'Étuve & Eikstraat, which is 61 cm, and contains a wardrobe for different occasions.

Curious about the legend of this little peeing fella?

There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (now Neder-over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung it in a tree, to encourage them. From there, he urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.

Having this replica straight from Belgium from one of our family friends is a great way to experience art from Dutch. Would you believe, a little peeing man would definitely cost a priceless art? I guess so.

9 comments:

SHALEE on March 22, 2009 at 12:06 AM
ow! now i know!..thanx for the info..c",)
Anonymous on March 22, 2009 at 1:29 AM
hay naku, one of my regrets when we went to belgium was we didn't go to this "peeing boy". it's one of their most famous tourist spots and yet i didn't get to see it. :(
Anonymous on March 22, 2009 at 5:58 AM
hmm.. same lang ba ito yung angel sa aquarium? umiihi ng hangin?
Tanchi on March 22, 2009 at 6:19 AM
@leonard pe: yes...dami kasing version nito. pero yung pinakamalaki is the Belgium mannekin pis.
Sharkbytes (TM) on March 22, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I have one in bronze that was my grandmother's. The story she told me was that some military guy said that after he won a battle he vowed he would make a statue of his son doing whatever he was doing when he first saw him again... and there we are!

Mine is about 2.5 inches tall
Anonymous on March 22, 2009 at 9:27 AM
@sharkbytes: wow...it must be a great replica..there are so many stories behing that statue. countless.:))
Lito Antoque on March 23, 2009 at 6:37 AM
this indeed a wonderful work of art.i just learned it here in yuor post.good enough i do blog hopping here...
escape on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 PM
very interesting facts about that little statue. i never knew it (the original one) has that big value.
Anonymous on March 26, 2009 at 5:38 AM
If ever I pass by this statue, I shall think of you...
w8 that came out not too nice, not I'll be thinking of you peeing tee hee, but because I saw this on your blog.

tanchi, kumusta na?!!