Eros is the name popularly given to the large statue of a winged youth with a bow that stands on top of a fountain in Piccadilly Circus, in London. Eros, the mythical Greek god of love, is frequently shown in this way. However, the statue in Piccadilly Circus was intended as a portrayal of the angel of Christian charity.
The statue was cast in aluminum and set on a bronze fountain. It was designed by the sculptor Sir Alfred Gilbert and erected in 1893 as a memorial to the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury. Many people objected to the statue when it was first erected because of the figure’s nudity and pagan associations. But it has become one of the most familiar symbols of London.
