Marshall Fredericks
Ohio Outdoor Sculpture Inventory
A symbol of the constant effort for peace, the Fountain of Eternal Life, sometimes referred to as "Peace Arising from the Flames of War" or simply "The War Memorial Fountain" stands a towering 46 feet in the air. It represents a stylized man escaping a pillar of twisting flames that bursts from the Earth below him, stretching up towards the sky. The Earth is banded with symbols of the zodiac, and it is completely dwarfed by the man in his quest for peace.
In the circular fountain pool, there are four granite slabs, each representing a different geographical region. Europe's section shows a reclining female nude caressing two dogs that growl at a nearby faun. The Asian section shows an elderly man in a traditional hat holding his ground against a couple of sea creatures, The African section shows two people praying and worshiping an elephant deity, while another man in traditional garb reclines, making a symbolic gesture. Finally, the American section shows an alligator behind two mourning men. A third man embraces a traditional Mesoamerican mask. The figures in all of these murals transcend time, signifying that conflict and struggle have plagued our world forever.
The piece was originally commissioned and installed as a memorial for veterans of WWII and Korea from the Greater Cleveland Area. However it underwent several rededications, and now serves as a memorial for any Greater Clevelander who has been pronounced dead or missing in war between 1899 to present.
Made: 1964
120 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44113
Cuyahoga County
Height: 46 ft
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