Alexandrian pillar. Sights of St. Petersburg

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Who has never been to St. Petersburg himself, he heard about one of its symbols thanks to the works of Pushkin. “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands…”. For the great poet, this landmark of the city on the Neva was a true measure of height in all senses of the word. I would really like to know: what is the Pillar of Alexandria?

About pillars and pillars

By the way, ignorant people sometimes say not a pillar, but a pillar. What is the difference? Theoretically, none: a pillar is the old name of a word well known to us. But in fact, the difference between the two concepts is colossal: a pillar is just something long and dull, and a pillar is both an architectural column and a symbol of the majestic, bright. You can say “pillars” about outstanding people, you can say about monuments.

The familiar term of the Alexander Pillar, strictly speaking, is not correct: in fact, the name of the attraction is the Alexander Column. But the words thrown by Pushkin sunk into the soul, and it was the unofficial name that took root. And because the appearance of the monument is consistent with the architectural definition of the pillar, and because the building is really majestic.

Granite miracle

The Alexandrian Column in St. Petersburg was erected in 1834, its location is Palace Square. Emperor Nicholas I himself commissioned the famous architect O. Montferrand. This Empire-style monument was dedicated to the autocrat's elder brother, Alexander I, the mastermind behind the victory of the Russian Army over Napoleon.

Work on the project of the monument was not easy, various options were discussed. The task was formulated: to obtain a structure that in appearance resembles Trajan's column in Rome, but surpasses the Vendôme column in Paris in height. Such a narrow framework did not allow Montferrand to fully show his individuality, and in the design of the monument one can easily guess, albeit modified, but someone else's ideas. And yet the monument is unique in its own way: it has become the tallest among other triumphal buildings in the world. The architect, refusing additional elements decorating a monolithic column 25.6 m high, thereby emphasized the natural beauty of pink polished granite.

The total height of the structure, together with the statue of an angel mounted on top, exceeds 47 meters. Such an impressive size does not allow us to consider in detail what the Alexandrian Pillar is. Photos, on the contrary, allow us to appreciate all the features of the monument, and in particular, the magnificent composition in its upper part.

About angels and eagles

The monument is not only an object of enthusiastic admiration, but also a complex engineeringconstruction. Both the column itself and the angel crowning the monument by B. Orlovsky are supported without additional supports due to their own gravity. Such an architectural solution for a long time aroused the fears of the townspeople, who assumed that the monument would suddenly collapse. To dispel these fears, the architect began to walk in the morning right at the foot of the column.

The magnificent figure of a bronze angel deserves special attention. One hand is raised to the sky, in the other he holds a cross trampling a snake. The statue should symbolize the peace that the Russian Army brought to Europe, freeing it from Napoleon. The appearance of the angel somewhat resembles the facial features of Emperor Alexander I.

The surroundings and the fence of the monument amaze with sophistication and complexity of execution. The Pillar of Alexandria monument is surrounded by a one and a half meter bronze fence, which was also designed by Montferrand. Two-headed and three-headed eagles, as well as captured cannons, served as decoration for the fence. Unfortunately, in recent years, these magnificent birds have "died" in large numbers at the hands of barbarian townspeople, and copies have come to replace them.

From the history of the monument

The Pillar of Alexandria was opened on August 30, 1834 (after five years of work). Installed in the very center of Palace Square, the monument became the final touch in its design. The opening ceremony was attended by the entire royal family, headed by the emperor, as well as numerous representatives of the diplomatic corps. At the foot of the monument happeneda solemn service, a huge kneeling Russian army was lined up on the square.

The history of the Alexandrian pillar is rich in events. The monument survived revolutions, wars, and the rainy St. Petersburg climate. Of course, it is restored from time to time, but mostly the work is only cosmetic.

Monument and USSR

The hardest part of the construction was in the first years of Soviet power. The space next to the monument was changed, the fence was melted down into cartridge cases in the 30s of the last century. An angel that did not fit well with the principles of atheism was covered with a red canvas cap before the holidays or masked with balloons descended from an airship.

They say that the issue of changing a religious figure to a cult one was repeatedly and quite seriously discussed (at first it was about Lenin, then about Stalin). But, fortunately, these ideas were never implemented, and the angel takes its rightful place. Plans to replace the bronze bas-reliefs of the pedestal with new ones, which will be based on revolutionary stories, did not materialize either. Later, the Alexandrian pillar received a fence, carefully recreated from old photographs and historical materials. Her grand introduction took place in 2004.

Summer Garden

Although the Alexander Column is a kind of visiting card of the city, there is something to see besides it. The sights of St. Petersburg can amaze even the most sophisticated tourist. For example, the Summer Palace of Peter I. This is one of the oldest city buildings, made in the Baroque style and not at all like a royal monastery. Peter, equipping the Northern capital, dreamed of building a summer residence reminiscent of Versailles. Eminent architects and gardeners did not work in vain - the place where the palace complex (Summer Garden) is located is striking in its beauty and sophistication. The park to this day remains the favorite vacation spot of the townspeople and the goal of pilgrimage for many tourists.

The Bronze Horseman

Those who have never been to the city on the Neva also know about this attraction from the works of Pushkin. “He stood on the shore of desert waves, full of great thoughts” … Who are these words about? About a person, about a monument?

With the light hand of the great poet, the Bronze Horseman was nicknamed one of several monuments to Peter I in the city. The monument really looks like a copper one, although it is made of bronze. Its author is the French sculptor Falcone, who showed in his work a new and somewhat unexpected image of the founder of the city. Catherine II, who ordered the sculpture, wanted to see Peter look like a Roman emperor in his full dress and with all the attributes of power. Falcone did his own thing. His Peter is a rider on a rearing horse. As conceived by the author, a horse covered with a bearskin and a snake crushed by its hooves are all ignorant and wild, but subdued by the emperor. The figure of Peter himself is the embodiment of strength, the desire for progress and steadfastness in upholding his principles.

The Bronze Horseman is notjust one of the city's many great attractions. This figure is iconic in its own way; there are many local tales and legends about her.

Hermitage

If you try to list at least the most famous sights of St. Petersburg, you can easily get confused with the names - there are too many of them. And yet there is a place in the city that any tourist must visit (we are not talking about the townspeople at all - they should be here as often as possible). This is the Hermitage - the legendary art museum! The complex occupies 6 buildings, each of which is a historical monument, and the main one is the Winter Palace. The museum has collected about 3 million exhibits, including the immortal creations of Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Raphael. It is impossible to list all the masterpieces stored here. But it's worth trying to look at at least some of them.

Cruiser Aurora

This ship, permanently moored at the city embankment, was known to every child in the Soviet years. The Aurora, a battle cruiser, a participant in many heroic battles, was, however, known for other reasons. By firing a blank shot at the Winter Palace on October 25, 1917, the Aurora predetermined the fate of the revolution and the Russian Empire.

In the 70s of the last century in Soviet kitchens they liked to tell such a joke. Brezhnev wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, his wife wonders what's wrong. The General Secretary talks about his nightmare. Like, floats Lenin on the Moscow River onboat, pokes a long stick at the bottom and says: “Here the Aurora will pass. Here too!”

Modern man does not understand the meaning of the joke. But for those living in those years, Aurora was associated with the changes that society so longed for and the authorities so feared. Changes in the country really took place - however, a little later, and without ship salvos. Society is still divided by disputes, but was it necessary to do this? In general, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on the Aurora just in case!