(Károly TÓTH, 2YMA Comparative History, 2nd year)
The 7-days-long period of in Paris started from May 2, 1871 is called as
La semaine sanglante (Bloody Week); on its last day 147 communards (means: supporters
of the Paris Commune) were shot to a trench dug near the wall of the Père
Lachaise Cemetery. Since then that section is referred as Le mur des fédérés (Communards’ Wall) and in 1907 a memorial plaque was placed on it.
Tamás Székely: Paris, Père Lachaise Cemetery – The Communards’ Wall (Fenyves. “Budapesti Tavaszi Fesztivál: Ezer esemény – százezreknek.” Ország – Világ, 12 March, 1986, 11.) |
It is a common misconception that somewhere there is a statue depicting a woman
shot and leaning to the wall locate; although the statue exists, it is in a park
outside of the cemetery.
The 200-złoty-banknote from the People’s Republic of Poland – with the portrait of Jarosław Dąbrowski, the military commander of the Commune on the other side (NumisCollection) |
Paul Moreau-Vauthier designed it in 1900, and it was
erected in 1909 (ironically, it was never inaugurated). Because of its title (Aux
victimes des révolutions) it commemorates the victims of revolutions in general, which makes it problematic
as a commemorative arena.
Paul Moreau-Vauthier: Aux victimes des révolutions (“To the Victims of Revolutions”; own work) |
It is interesting to note that the stones used for its
wall are from “the” wall, taken by the sculptor’s father, and even its bullet
holes are original. Besides that the situation is almost identical to the
paradox of Theseus’ ship, it is interesting that despite its location it became
associated with the “original” wall outside of France.
So, tell me now, where is the Communards’ Wall exactly? |
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