Poliglotek
Poliglotek is a book-loving polyglot dwarf lying on the pavement near the Foreign Language Centre of Wrocław University of Science and Technology on Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego.
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Poliglotek
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Story
Poliglotek never stops learning. He lies on his belly on the pavement, nose almost on the ground, with a pile of books balanced behind him and one finger raised, as if he had just remembered a word in a tenth language. Legend among the local dwarfs says that he greets passers-by in a new tongue every morning, and answers in whichever language you answer him.
History & Significance
Poliglotek (also called Poliglota) stands on Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego near the Studium Języków Obcych (Foreign Language Centre) of Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Wromap dates him to 8 May 2017 and lists two authors, Beata Zwolańska-Hołod and Sebastian Obst; Polish Wikipedia lists the same pair. Sources differ on the address: wromap says Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 8, while Polish Wikipedia says number 7. Wrocław's bronze dwarfs trace their roots to the Orange Alternative, a playful protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls; since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now well over a thousand of them.
Inspiration
Poliglotek is a tribute to language learners and to the language centre of the university: a polyglot is a person who speaks many languages. The stack of books next to him is the dwarf's version of a language course, and his lying pose looks like someone who has settled in to read for the long run.
Fun Facts
- A polyglot is someone who speaks many languages, which gives the dwarf his name.
- He lies on his belly with a stack of books balanced behind him.
- He was made by two authors, Beata Zwolańska-Hołod and Sebastian Obst.
- Wromap dates him to 8 May 2017.
- He is about 1.6 km from the Market Square, and the nearest dwarf, Siwek, is only 83 m away.
How to Find This Dwarf
Go to Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego, by the Foreign Language Centre of the university, and look at pavement level, because Poliglotek lies flat. From Siwek, walk about 83 m to the northwest. From MOSTowiak, head about 126 m to the northeast. From Matematyk, it is about 205 m to the north.
Nearby Dwarfs
See all Wrocław dwarfs on the dwarf list
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Poliglotek dwarf in Wrocław?
Poliglotek lies on Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego near the Foreign Language Centre of Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Wromap gives number 8, Polish Wikipedia number 7.
Why is Poliglotek lying down with books?
He is a polyglot, a person who speaks many languages, and the pile of books stands for the language study that goes with it.
Who made Poliglotek?
He was made by Beata Zwolańska-Hołod and Sebastian Obst; wromap dates him to 8 May 2017.
Accessibility
Ground LevelOutdoor
Photos show the dwarf lying on smooth paving slabs at ground level beside a glass wall. The approach looks flat; no steps are visible.
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