the pediment is the Indolent Man, with a half-kneeling woman, the spirit of progress, beckoning the Indolent Man into the new land of promise. Next is the goddess Europa leading a bull, symbolizing Canada's European heritage and immigration. To the right of Europa, a man, woman and child symbolizing the colonization of a new land. Seated in the centre is Lady Manitoba with the rays of the sun behind her. Lady Manitoba closely resembles the fertility goddesses Ishtar and Demeter, both patron deities of agriculture. To the west is Neptune's trident symbolizing the Pacific Ocean; to the east is a ship’s wheel symbolizing the Atlantic Ocean. Adjacent to Lady Manitoba are a man and a woman laden with wheat and fruit, products of the soil. Next is a muscular male figure with a team of powerful horses and a primitive plough tilling the soil. Finally in the bottom right corner are two entwined female figures representing the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Entrance and grounds On the outside of the building, at the four corners of the base of the dome are representations of Agriculture, Art, Industry, and Learning, designed by William Birnie Rhind of Scotland and carved by F. A. Purdy of Vermont. Statues at both the east and west entrances were designed and carved by the Piccirilli Brothers: the east is flanked by statues of La Verendrye and Lord Selkirk; and the west, by statues of General James Wolfe and Lord Dufferin. On both the east and west porticos sit figures representing war and peace. On the east side, with engraved images of weapons of war, are two male figures, one a native warrior with an eagle head-dress, another a Roman soldier, and on the west side there are two female figures for peace. Each pair guards a chest, rumoured to represent the Ark of the Covenant because of the proper proportions as mentioned in the ancient Hebrew texts. At the front of the grounds was a statue of Queen Victoria, toppled on July 1, 2021. On the south grounds, including the fountain, the Manitoba Plaza was officially opened in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the province. Also in this area, facing the Assiniboine River, sits the sculpture of Louis-Riel, leader of Métis, created by Miguel Joyal. The statue was put in place on 12 May 1996, on the 126th anniversary of the passing of Manitoba Act, and