European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Brandenburg Symbol of Victory by James a Bottoms or. On the evening of dec. 22, 1989, the eyes of much of. The world were on one specific geographical and political site the Brandenburg Cato in Berlin. Tor it was Here that the citizens of East and West Berlin converged As the political leaders of East and West Germany walked through the Gate together for the first time since the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961. The Brandenburg Gale has Long been a focal Point for meetings rallies and demonstrations since it was opened in the presence of King Frederick William ii on aug 6, 1791. Today As the Gate approaches its 200th anniversary the area surrounding it is a pedestrian zone frequented by residents and visitors alike and populated by vendors offering a wide variety of merchandise a much of it with political links. Heavily emphasized Are uniform items from the soviet and former East German military and Security services. Hats belts coals military insignia and pins of All sizes and descriptions Are available so Are flags armbands and even those cute Little wooden stacking dolls proclaiming Mikhail Gorbachev As a Nobel peace laureate sections of the Berlin Wall in All shapes sizes and colors Are also on Sale along with a Nice selection of bursts drinks and other refreshments. And the demonstrators still c ome As they did last month when members of the environmental group Greenpeace stood atop the Gate to Call for the development of Eastern Germany with non nuclear Energy the Brandenburg Gate was conceived by architect c Arl got hard i afghans to be the Art Hite Tural termination of be runs then principal Boulevard Uncle rat a Linden Quot under the Lime Trees Quot and to be the embodiment of the prussian stale. A a a a. 1 he Overall dimensions of the Gate Are impressive. It is a a a a a. 8r> Leet 21 6 feet wider. It has five 36-foot passageways Between its massive Walls carvings by Bernhardt Rode in the form of medallions decorate these1 passageways and depict the labors of Here Ules. On either Side of the main Gale Are flanking Side wings. Originally these were loll Gates but in 1868, when the oily Wall was demolished they were converted into open. C colonnades Tor he use of pedestrians when it was built the Brandenburg Gate was but one of a series of 14 Gate s surrounding the old City of Berlin in addition to the collection of toils had another curious in Light of the later placement of the Berlin Wall. It was intended to be list d by the police and military to discourage anyone trying to desert from the prussian army. V inspiration for the design was drawn from the Entrance. To the Parthenon in Athens. However instead of a Large triangular pediment on top of the Arch Lang ans installed a thick horizontal attic Story typical of roman triumphal Arches and c owned the whole with a c had Riga two wheeled c a riot drawn by four horses abreast driven by the goddess of peace by Johann Gottfried Schadow. Below the statue on Side is a Relief carving by Rode titled the Voress on at the colder of peace. Langhans noted that the statue Quot depicts the Triumph of peace a whereas the carving by the just use of weapons. When Napoleon made1 his triumphant Entrance Mlo. Berlin after the French Victory Over the prussians at Lena in 1806, he wrote Quot i lie entrant e through this Gate is a indeed he was so enamoured by the. 8 stripes Magazine May 16, 1991
