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| Achilles |
| The bronze statue of Achilles was designed by Richard Westmacott and installed in Hyde Park in 1822. It was erected to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's great victories at Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse and Waterloo. The statue was cast from 22 French cannons captured during these campaigns. |
| But why Achilles? Because Achilles was the fiercest and most indomitable of the Greek warriors in Homer's Iliad and was thus likened to the tough-as-nails Duke of Wellington. |
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Hyde Park Corner. |
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2, 10, 16, 36, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 414 and 436 all go along Park Lane. |
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Achilles was Britain's first public nude statue. A fig leaf was later added to preserve the great warrior's modesty. |
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