Statue of Frederick II

In case you were wondering, the equestrian statue you see in the middle of the street is that of King Frederick II of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great. He is depicted on his horse, emphasizing his role as a military leader. You can see him dressed in his military uniform, looking proud and triumphant. If you get closer to the pedestal, you will notice carvings and inscriptions near the bottom commemorating his greatest battles. First to bear the title of King of Prussia, it was also under his reign that Prussia became a major world power. Because of this, his nephew and successor to the throne, Frederick III, commissioned this statue a few decades later to honor Prussia’s glorious past. The work is signed by Christian Daniel Rauch, a renowned German sculptor, and dates back to 1839. Encased in concrete to protect it from wartime damage, the statue became a source of controversy during the Cold War and was moved to the royal palace in Potsdam. It only returned to its original location after reunification. And that concludes our introduction to Frederick the Great. Walk a few more meters to reach the entrance of Humboldt University.