Just outside the walls of the Roman city there is the statue of Gregory of Ninth, Croatian Catholic bishop who in the 10th century translated the celebration of the Mass from Latin to the Slavic language and contributed strongly to the spread of Christianity. The 1929 sculpture is by Ivan Meštrović.
Locals have dubbed the work "The Magician’s Statue" because of its strong resemblance to the legendary figure of the Merlin Wizard. It is said that the statue has thaumaturgic powers, in many, over the years, have claimed to have been healed by the statue of the Magician. The realized desires that are attributed to the statue are many, so the custom of rubbing the big toe of the magician was born, entrusting him the realization of his own hope.
This led to an obvious corrosion of the surface of the foot.
Another statue in the historic center of the city is that of the Sphinx, located in the square of the Peristyle, in front of the Cathedral of St.Doimo.
The sculpture is of African black granite and dates back to the time of Pharaoh Thutmosis III, with its more than 3000 years, is considered one of the oldest monuments in Split.
The work was brought to Split by the Roman emperor Diocletian, fascinated by Egyptian culture.
According to the myths of ancient Egypt, sphinxes had the task of stopping those who passed in front of them, and they had to place puzzles to solve, every incorrect answer was punished with death.
An urban legend tells of how the wealthy American magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, visiting the city, had expressed a desire to buy the sphinx epaulette, but his offer was rejected with disdain.
So the entrepreneur cursed the statue.
From that moment Cornelius began to isolate himself more and more, cutting off all relations with friends and relatives, he even went so far as to disinherit his children.
Upon his death he left an estimated fortune of more than $100 million (equivalent to 144 billion euros today).
He is remembered by all as a vulgar and petty man.
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