St James gives you one of the cleanest fact-versus-story examples in Brno. The visible fact is wonderfully specific: high on the southern side of the church there is a small stone figure exposing its bare backside. The City of Brno then supplies the explanation with an important verbal signal: 'it is told' that rivalry between the builders of St James and Petrov ended with a master stonemason being forced to leave, so he finished one last detail as revenge and pointed the insult towards Petrov. That is a great legend. It is not the same thing as a documented building contract or court record. Spot the figure first; only then decide how much explanatory drama you want to believe.
What is documented — and what is not
Documented fact
A small carved figure exposing its bare backside can be seen high on the southern side of St James church.
Evidence: Statutory City of Brno
Legend
The city presents the explanation that the figure was a stonemason's revenge against rivals at Petrov as a story that is told, not as established historical causation.
Evidence: Statutory City of Brno
Sources
- O neslušném mužíčkovi u Jakuba
Statutory City of Brno · primary