During World War II the quadriga, the impressive figure of the charioteer Victory driving four horses, on top of the Brandenburg Gate was destroyed. Later, both the East and West German au thorities agreed to replace it with a copy of the original. The former possessed the molds; the latter supplied the metal for casting. The process of negotiation and production required nearly two years. After the new quadriga was mounted, it was found that the Commu nists had made an important change: the chariot driven by Victory was placed so that it faces east and not west as in former times. The wit of...