Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Bristol 'Phoenix and the Four Elements'
AO Edited

'Phoenix and the Four Elements'

An alchemical monument that represents "Earth, Air, Fire, and Water."

Bristol, England

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   David
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Air”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Water”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Fire”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Earth”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Thomas Nugent
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   14GTR
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Phoenix and the Four Elements’   Anders Sandberg
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

An enigmatic monument stands in front of the Freshford House building in Bristol, a bronze sculpture of the mythical phoenix spreading its wings. Its four-sided pedestal comes with reliefs that depict nude female figures representing the four elements and is rich in alchemical symbolism.

The earth elemental is depicted as a pregnant woman surrounded by orchids; air strides with pride, her hair flowing in the wind, water flows upstream, and fire seems to emerge from flames. The woman's face is hidden by the fire. Above them, the phoenix rises from its ashes, reborn as a new entity.

Coming across this sculpture, curious onlookers might wonder, what is the significance of such a statue? The truth, while uncertain, may be rather simple and lie in its origin. The monument was created by British artist Thomas Nugent in 1985, a commissioned piece from a company named Phoenix Assurance. The phoenix form was likely chosen due to the company's name The alchemical symbolism was the artist taking creative license in interpretation.

Related Tags

Design Art Sculptures

Know Before You Go

Kitty-corner/diagonal from St. Mary's Redcliffe Church, on the north-west section of the roundabout.

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

SEANETTA, Xavixavir

  • SEANETTA
  • Xavixavir

Published

January 3, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://allatsea.co.za/musings/the-phoenix-and-the-four-elements/
  • https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/phoenix-and-the-four-elements-284124
'Phoenix and the Four Elements'
Bristol, England, BS1 6NL
United Kingdom
51.449552, -2.590094

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Nearby Places

St. Mary Redcliffe Tram Rail

Bristol, England

miles away

John Cabot's Whalebone

Bristol, England

miles away

The St Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum

Bristol, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bristol

Bristol

England

Places 32
Stories 5

Related Places

  • ‘Minor Triumph’

    Seoul, South Korea

    ‘Minor Triumph’

    Children’s timeless joy is remembered in the fast-developing Myeongdong district of Seoul.

  • 'Buttbrunnen'

    Berlin, Germany

    'Buttbrunnen'

    Largely overlooked, this little fountain on Museum Island is a whimsical tribute to a Prussian king nicknamed the “Fatty Flounder.”

  • Stone Gargoyle Chair

    Durham, England

    Stone Gargoyle Chair

    An unusual stone chair can be found on the banks of the River Wear, not far from Durham Cathedral.

  • The Public Purse

    Melbourne, Australia

    'The Public Purse'

    This giant, granite purse is one of Melbourne's most unique and distinctive pieces of public art.

  • ‘The Gorbals Boys’

    Glasgow, Scotland

    'The Gorbals Boys'

    A sculpture that commemorates an iconic photo of urban Scotland's past.

  • ‘Molecule Men’

    Berlin, Germany

    'Molecule Man'

    This monumental work of art symbolizes the coming together of a previously divided city.

  • The Alauna Aura at night

    Maryport, England

    'Alauna Aura'

    This sculpture depicting the history of Maryport turns into a light show at night.

  • ‘Out of the Earth’

    Leeds, England

    'Out of the Earth'

    Since 1995, two red-painted metal figures have guarded the entrance to the Northern Ballet.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.