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Zois Pyramid, Ljubljana
PYRAMID IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY
Plan: 1927
Built: 1927
Commissioner: Municipality of Ljubljana
Address: Zoisova Street, Ljubljana
Access: open
The statue of Baron Ziga Zois is a part of a regulation plan for Cojzova Street.
Žiga (Sigismund) Zois (1747-1819), son of an Italian father and a Slovene mother was the riches, and according to some of his contemporaries, the most educated man of his time in Slovenia. He is the central persona of the Slovene 18th century cultural life. He traveled across the western Europe, spoke many languages and became a deist and a freemason under the influence of age of enlightenment. He spent his time with educated men in his house in Ljubljana. He was their teacher, leader and sponsor.
Besides literature, he took special interest in natural and mineral science. His library, known for its wide selection of books, includes Voltaire, Pope, Boileau and a short version of Enciclopedia.... (Peter Vodopivec, FROM POHLIN'S GRAMMAR TO INDEPENDANCE. Slovene history from the end of the 18th century until the end of 20th century. - Večer, 26.8.2006)
The Zois Pyramid does not resemble the Egypt one but a Freemason one portrayed on Freemason robes and the Dollar bill. It is how the pyramid became the symbol for money; with it, Plečnik marked »the richest Slovene«
It is true that the Zois Pyramyd is slimmer than the dollar bill one. Plečnik adapted it to the St. Jacobs church tower which is visible from the west side. (Tine Kurent, Arhitektov zvezek, Ljubljana, 2002, p. 114). The pyramid was initially overgrown with ivy.
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