Typically constructed from stone or metal, statues are a material representation of significant moments from history and culture. They are used to honour important historical figures and commemorate their accomplishments, contributions, or sacrifices. Statues can reveal what achievements were deemed valuable by society at the time of their construction, but they can also make clear whose achievements have been overlooked.
In Edinburgh there are currently 15 statues of animals, and one of the city’s most famous statues is Greyfriar’s Bobby. Bobby was a Skye Terrier who was incredibly loyal to his master John Gray: the pair were frequently seen roaming the streets together while John worked as a night watchman for the Edinburgh Police Force. Bobby’s loyalty to his master continued even after John Gray died of tuberculosis in 1858, as the dog refused to leave his master’s graveside in the Greyfriars kirkyard for over a decade even though the keeper of Greyfriars tried to evict Bobby several times. Stories of Bobby’s loyalty spread throughout Edinburgh and when Bobby passed away in 1872, he was also buried in the Greyfriars Kirk close to his master’s grave with a headstone that reads: “let his loyalty & devotion be a lesson to us all.”
Bobby’s faithfulness has been immortalised through the bronze statue located on the George IV Bridge outside Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. The statue has become a major tourist attraction partially due to a superstition that petting Bobby’s nose will grant the visitor good luck, but this behaviour is discouraged by Edinburgh council as it is causing damage to the statue. This statue was once part of a fountain with an upper basin for humans to drink from and a lower basin at its foot for dogs, but the water supply was discontinued in 1957 due to concerns about public health and the spread of diseases. Greyfriar’s Bobby has become one of Edinburgh’s most photographed statues, and the dog has inspired the names of many local businesses including Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, Bobby’s Sandwich Bar, and even the dearly missed Bobby’s Kebab House.
Another famous animal commemorated with a statue in Edinburgh’s city centre is Wojtek the soldier bear. After Wojtek’s mother was shot dead by hunters, the bear was adopted by Polish troops during World War II. Wojtek became an honorary member of the Polish army’s 22nd artillery supply and was trained to cavy heavy machinery such as mortar rounds. The bear became a true ally to the Polish troops; he lived and fought alongside the soldiers for several years and was even known to drink beers with his companions. After the war, Wojtek was taken to Scotland where he eventually came to live in the Edinburgh Zoo. Wojtek’s brothers in arms were known to come visit him regularly at the zoo up until his death in 1963 at the age of 22.
The bronze statue of Wojtek is located in Princes Street Gardens and is a commemoration of not only Wojtek himself, but of the Polish troops who fought alongside the bear during the war. Additionally, the statue serves as a symbol of the comradery between Poland and Scotland, and it is a public reminder of the importance of the bonds between humans and animals.
Across Edinburgh there are 15 statues of animals, but as of November 2025 there are only eight statues of named women in the city. However, Edinburgh city council have recently pledged to make Edinburgh’s streets more feminist and inclusive by creating more statues honouring women. There is work underway to create a statue of Elsie Inglis, one of the first women to graduate from Edinburgh University and a doctor who saved many lives by setting up hospitals near the fronts during the first world war.
Although there is work in progress to create more statues of women, the fact that there are almost twice as many statues of animals than there are statues of named women in Edinburgh is telling of the fact that women’s achievements have long been underappreciated. The disparity between statues of men and statues of women is even higher, with men outnumbering women nearly ten to one. This inequality makes it clear that women’s contributions to society have continuously gone unrecognised and that women themselves have, and continue to be, undervalued in Edinburgh.
Statues are an excellent way to immortalise significant figures from history so that memories of their accomplishments may live on in the present. Yet decisions of which figures from the past are deserving of statues (and therefore which figures are undeserving) can clearly never be separated from the values and politics of wider society.
Image by Kian Sullivan for The Student