Even the most avid Muscovite is not able to name the exact number of monuments in the main city of our country. Sculptures of various sizes adorn or spoil our capital. They are dedicated to legendary figures and great historical events. Their diversity is so great that it is impossible to describe all this. Famous doctors, pilots, composers, revolutionaries, scientists, sculptors, rulers and even the founder of this beautiful city, which is our capital, look at passers-by from their pedestals.
Until the middle of the last century, various monuments of Moscow stood on Tverskaya Square, but their fate was not long until it was decided in the main city of the country to celebrate its 800th anniversary with a special scale. In the post-war years, this was the first large-scale holiday, which was also planned to be a dress rehearsal for another anniversary celebration - the thirtieth anniversary of the October Revolution. Then the monument to Yuri Dolgoruky was founded in Moscow, which still stands here and delights the eyes of guests and residents, being a landmark of the capital.
A bit of history
It is believed that the main city of our country was founded in 1147, but this date is only the first mention of it in the annals. In fact, even then, historians knew that at this place there was a village at least two hundred years before Dolgoruky, so the prince could not found it. The only mystery that has not been solved so far is the construction of the fortification: whether it was erected under Yuri, or before it. Nevertheless, this date became traditional, and the figure of the prince was given special attention.
Monument Creation
A year before the celebration of the anniversary, by order of Stalin, an expedition was organized to the Ukrainian capital in order to find the remains of Yuri Dolgoruky. At its head was an anthropologist and archaeologist Gerasimov. According to the idea of the head of state, a reburial of the ashes was to take place at the celebration. But when studying this place, considered the official burial of the prince, it turned out that it turned out to be false.
In the same year, a competition for the best project was announced, according to which a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky will be completed in Moscow. Despite the participation of prominent sculptors of the country, Orlov turned out to be the best, who then worked mainly with fine porcelain plastic and did not engage in monumental sculpture at all. For this project, the sculptor was awarded the Stalin Prize - the highest award at that time.
Career takeoff Orlov. The legend of the occurrence of the monument
With the personal participation of the leader, the career of an unknown artist began to develop rapidly. This happened in a very short period between the end of World War II and the beginning of the "cold". Legend has it that during the exhibition of folk art, the American ambassador liked the clay cock, which was written by Orlov. Molotov presented him this toy, while the author promised it to the local Palace of Pioneers. At the end of the exhibition, Orlov decided to find out the fate of his creation and wrote a letter to the organizers of the exhibition, but this correspondence did not give a result. Therefore, Orlov sent a letter complaining to Stalin. These events coincided with the lowering of the Iron Curtain, and Molotov was arranged a big drag for what he preferred to the Soviet pioneers of the American diplomat.
After that, the leader suggested the sculptor take up a project, according to which a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow will be completed. But due to the fact that Orlov had no experience, co-authors Stamm and Antropov were attached to him.
There is also a version that the author won the competition, and his project of this Moscow attraction (photo posted in the article) really turned out to be the most successful.
Approval of the final version of the monument. Another legend
After a careful inspection of the model, the leader had a question about why the prince was sitting on a mare, and not on a stallion, which would give the image of the founder of the capital of masculinity. As a result, the authors urgently made all the necessary changes. In the time of Khrushchev, this story received a peculiar continuation.
Bookmark the monument
The monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow was laid during the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the capital. Despite the ceremony, the city will not see this monument soon, mainly because of the extremely inactive nature of Orlov. His co-authors tried to convince him that the techniques of small plastics are far from always applicable in monumental art. In addition, the sculptor constantly clashed with the authorities, who, contrary to his will, wanted to mention the Soviet government on the monument, but here the author defended his point of view. Yes, and funding was insufficient due to several projects that began at that time, including the construction of Stalin's skyscrapers.
Monument to Yuri Dolgoruky. Opening
In a festive atmosphere, only seven years after the moment it was laid, the unveiling of the monument took place. It was produced at the Mytishchi plant, and it cost the city budget five and a half million rubles. Since historians do not have reliable information about the appearance of the prince, thanks to the authors, he appeared before us in the image of a Russian hero, on the shield of which is the sign of George the Victorious, and on the body is armor.
Kostroma. Foundation History
The most vibrant and beautiful city, one of the representatives of the Golden Ring of our country, which includes the most ancient cities of our country, is Kostroma. Just five years after the founding of the future capital, it was erected on the Volga thanks to Yuri Dolgoruky. Such a version was proposed by the great historian Tatishchev, who associated this event with the vigorous activity of the prince in the north-east of the country. He laid the city during the campaign of Yuri in the lands of Kazan Bulgarians. But there is no evidence pointing to these facts, nor is there any justification for other versions of the city’s formation.
Scientists still cannot agree on the origin of the name of the city. Perhaps it came from the name of the Kostra River, on which this village stands. But along with this, there are other hypotheses.
Today Kostroma is a small but fairly developed city, which is famous for light industry, as well as other enterprises. This city is rightly called the cradle of the royal dynasty, and it was here that the Snow Maiden was born.
Monument to the founder of the city
In gratitude to its founder, after the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the city, a monument was erected to Yuri Dolgoruky, which is located recently called Soviet, and now Ascension Square. This truly solemn and long-awaited moment took place thanks to numerous sponsorship assistance.
And this event was preceded by the visit of Patriarch Alexy II, who presented Kostroma with a capsule of earth taken from the burial place of the prince. At the site of the future monument, a solemn ceremony of laying a stone, consecrated by Archbishop Alexander, was held. After this event, many residents of the city watched as the pledged monolith was soaked.
