Imperia is depicted as a robust, scantily clad courtesan (prostitute). In her outstretched hands, she holds two small, naked, elderly men. One wears the papal tiara (representing Pope Martin V) and the other wears a royal crown (representing Emperor Sigismund).The Satirical Meaning: The statue mocks the Council of Constance (1414–1418). During this massive church council, thousands of religious and secular leaders descended on the city to settle a papal schism. Along with them came hundreds of courtesans. The statue is based on Honoré de Balzac’s short story La Belle Impéria, which satirized how these wealthy courtesans held the real power over the world's most powerful religious and political rulers.The Clandestine Setup: When it was erected in 1993, it caused massive public and religious outrage. However, the artist and a local tourism board sneakily erected it on the private property of the German railway company (Deutsche Bahn), which meant city authorities had no legal right to pull it down. Over time, it became the most famous landmark in Konstanz.