| "NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO" |
| (Freedom is not to be sold for all the treasures of the world) |
Orlando's column in Dubrovnik (built in 1418 by Bonino, a sculptor from Milan) was erected to celebrate the city's freedom. It also marked the beginning of the golden period of Ragusan history. After it was built, until the time Napoleon abolished the Republic, a flag of the Republic with an image of St. Vlaho flew from the flagpole. Once it served as the city's forum for public proclamations, notices, rallies, and punishments. In 1990 a flag with the city's LIBERTAS motto was flown above the column, which became a rallying point for Dubrovnik's freedom fighters.
It is interesting to notice, if you look closely, a line carved in the base of the stone column. This is supposed to be the length of Orlando's arm from his fingertips to his elbow, a length that became a Ragusan standard of measurement representing "Dubrovacki lakat", the official measure of length of cloth – 51,2 cm (20 in). |
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| Last modified: 6/10/2008 |
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