The prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah lived in the Kingdom of Judah (Judea) for almost 40 years until it was conquered by the Babylonians in 587 BCE. He prophesied that Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed as a punishment for the people’s sins. He was disliked and was persecuted and tormented for his constant warnings. In the end, he was driven out under a hail of stones. This is depicted on the plinth. When King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem, Jeremiah was thrown in prison and later taken to Egypt.

The statue

Jeremiah is depicted with a halo in his hands – a circular disk from which emanate Greek crosses and sunrays. This is a reminder of Jesus’s suffering, of which Jeremiah’s own suffering served as a warning.