What Most People Get Wrong About Piccadilly Circus and the Eros Statue
Many visitors to Piccadilly Circus in London believe they’re seeing a statue of Eros, the Greek god of love. But the truth is more surprising. This article reveals the real identity of the statue and why the confusion persists.
The Origin of Piccadilly Circus and the Statue of Eros
It was Saturday evening. I picked up the second volume of Hermes Lives in New York. I happened to open the part that mentions "If you go to Piccadilly Circus in London." As I read, a few thoughts came to mind, so I decided to jot them down.
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A circus square with acrobats?
Even as a child, I knew Piccadilly Circus was a square. But because of the word "circus," I thought it must be a plaza where circus troupes often came to perform. That assumption stuck with me for a long time.
As time passed, I learned that "circus" doesn’t mean performers but something round. Still, I misunderstood again—thinking it came from the English word “circle.” Maybe, in very ancient times, the roots are related.
But in fact, the word circus was used in ancient Rome. It meant a circular or oval arena. A famous example is the Circus Maximus, which could seat 150,000 people. Today, it’s just a site used as a park.
In 18th century England, city planners borrowed the Roman concept of the circus and named round buildings or plazas as such.
In many countries, squares are usually wide and rectangular. But in Britain, especially in London, there are many round plazas called circuses—Oxford Circus, St. James's Circus, and of course, Piccadilly Circus.
I think this has something to do with London’s road system. The city layout seems to spread out radially from round centers like Piccadilly Circus. That’s just my guess though.
Piccadilly Circus
If you say “Piccadilly,” older Koreans might think of the old Piccadilly Theater in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul. Of course, the London plaza came first. So where did that name come from?
The origin of the name Piccadilly
In the 17th century, there was a famous tailor named Robert Baker. He made a fortune selling a type of collar called a piccadill. The word came from the Spanish piccadillo, meaning a small edge or frill.
Baker became rich and built a big house called Piccadilly Hall in what is now the Piccadilly area. Over time, the whole area started being called Piccadilly.
But is it really a round plaza?
Piccadilly Circus isn’t exactly square, but it’s not that round either. So why is it called a circus?
When it was first designed in 1819, it wasn’t like today. Back then, it was a neat, round plaza surrounded by elegant Georgian buildings. Probably a quiet place with carriages, no cars or neon signs.
But the city changed. Buildings were replaced. Now it's a lively, modern commercial area.
Why is there a statue of Eros in the middle of London?
Right in the center of Piccadilly Circus stands the statue of Eros. Climb more than ten steps, and you’ll see a winged youth drawing a bow. Not a child Eros, but a full-grown version. Given the strict moral and religious tone of the Victorian era, how did a statue of the Greek god of love and desire end up there?
Actually, that’s a huge misunderstanding. The statue isn’t Eros. People assumed it was because of the wings and the bow. But the official name is Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, and the figure is not Eros but the Angel of Christian Charity, representing brotherly love.
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Erected in 1893, the statue was designed by Alfred Gilbert to honor the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper. He worked to improve treatment for the mentally ill, fought against the opium trade, and helped end child labor so children could be educated instead of exploited.
Over time, the Christian meaning of charity and brotherhood was forgotten, and the angel came to be mistaken—maybe shamefully—as Eros, the god of passion. It makes you think of those stories about churches turning into pubs in modern London. 😢
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