The statue of Jesus crucified on Calvary Hill on the Charles Bridge in Prague was made by Hans Hillger in 1629. Later (1861) the statues on both sides of the statue (the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist) were made by Emanuel Max.
The sign describes the story of the inscription in Hebrew:
קדוש, קדוש, קדוש יהוה צבאות
[Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts]
The verse from the book of Isaiah surrounds the head of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
In 1696 one of the leaders of the Jewish community, named Elias Backoffen had to pay for the text after he was accused of blasphemy, by not removing his hat when he passed by the cross.
Note that the letter "א" in the word צבאות, is placed backwards. During World War II, the Nazis removed the letter, and it was mistakenly placed in reverse.
The statue was photographed on the same day by the same photographer
Click for a larger image The Hebrew text and the crucified Jesus appear here in magnification
Click for a larger image Translation of the text on the sign:
triple
holy, holy, holy,
to glory
of the crucified Messiah
Paid from a fine
by
A Jew desecrates the cross,
Charged by
The reputable royalty
Court
Based
on September 14
1696 AD
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