Peace Fountain facts for kids
The Peace Fountain is a tall sculpture and fountain found next to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York City. It stands about 40 feet (12 meters) high. The artist, Greg Wyatt, created it in 1985. He was the sculptor for the cathedral at that time.
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What is the Peace Fountain?
The Peace Fountain is a large sculpture that shows the fight between good and evil. It also shows a battle between the Archangel Michael and Satan. You can also see the Sun, the Moon, and many different animals on the sculpture. Even though it's called a fountain, there is no water flowing from it right now.
A special plaque at the bottom of the fountain explains its meaning. It says the fountain celebrates good winning over evil. It also shows how God brings peace to opposite things like violence and harmony, or light and darkness.
When the fountain used to work, water would flow down from the center. This water looked like the first chaos of Earth. Around the base, there are "flames of freedom" that represent the future.
Stories and Symbols in the Fountain
The center of the fountain is shaped like a double helix. This shape is like DNA, which is the main molecule of life. At the very top, a giant crab reminds us that life started in the ocean.
The sculpture also features a sleeping Moon facing west. It shows peace, while a happy Sun smiles to the east. Swirls around the Sun and Moon show how everything on Earth is connected to the bigger movements of the universe.
Nine giraffes are part of the sculpture. Giraffes are known as peaceful animals. They are shown resting and playing around the center. One giraffe even rests its head on the chest of the winged Archangel Michael. In the Bible, Archangel Michael leads the good forces against evil. His sword is shown defeating his main enemy, Satan. Satan's head is shown falling into the depths, hanging under the crab's claw.
Tucked away near the Sun, you can see a lion and a lamb resting together. This shows the peace of God's kingdom, as described by an old prophet named Isaiah.
Animals and Famous Faces
Small bronze animals surround the fountain. These were made by schoolchildren and are part of the Children’s Sculpture Garden. Around the area where the fountain sits, there are also plaques. These plaques show different famous thinkers, philosophers, and artists. Most of them have a quote from that person.
Even though the Peace Fountain is next to a Christian cathedral, many of the people shown on the plaques are not Christian. For example, you can see Gandhi, Socrates, Albert Einstein, and John Lennon. John Lennon's image includes a quote from his famous song "Imagine".
Images for kids
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Cathedral of St. John the Divine, exterior with Peace Fountain
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Peace Fountain details
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Peace Fountain details
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Plaque
