One of the symbols of the city of Tver is the monument to Afanasy Nikitin, a local merchant, traveler and writer. Thanks to its original execution, this sculpture attracts locals and tourists, surprising and amazing every time. What is the history of this majestic monument?
Afanasy Nikitin's achievements
In 1468-1475, a Tver merchant went on a sea voyage for trading purposes. During this journey, he discovered India, describing the political and economic situation in this country. In his notes, Afanasy Nikitin paid considerable attention to the culture of this state, as well as the life of its inhabitants. However, another date for the discovery of India is most famous all over the world, it was made by the European traveler Vasco da Gama in 1498-1502, that is, it happened a full thirty years later.
In his notes, Athanasius also recorded many interesting facts about Ethiopia, Turkey andPersia. Records of the merchant's travels have survived to this day in the form of a voluminous collection "Journey Beyond the Three Seas" and are recognized as a significant literary monument.
History of the monument
The monument to Afanasy Nikitin in Tver was erected and inaugurated in 1955. The sculpture of a merchant rises on a pedestal. Nikitin holds a letter in one hand. The surrounding space is stylized as the deck of a ship, and in front of the figure of Athanasius, the prow of the ship, made in the form of a carved horse, proudly protrudes forward. The "ship" is located on the Volga embankment, exactly opposite the place from which the merchant really set off on his great voyage. The monument to Afanasy Nikitin was designed by sculptors A. P. Zavalova and S. M. Orlov with the participation of the architect G. A. Zakharova.
Similar monuments in other cities
Today, Afanasy Nikitin from Tver is not the only one in the world. Sculptures in honor of this great navigator and explorer have also been installed in other cities and countries. There were no disputes about the installation site when the first monument to Afanasy Nikitin was created. Tver is the hometown of this great man. However, his contribution to science and literature is so great that after some time it was decided to open several more monuments - in the Crimea and India. In 2002, a sculpture of a navigator was installed in the city of Revdand, near the place where, presumably, the merchant first set foot on Indian soil. About six months later, another monument to Afanasy Nikitin appeared in Bidar. In 2008a similar sculpture appeared in Feodosia (in the Middle Ages - Kafa). The monument was erected near the Orthodox church, which Nikitin visited while in these parts.
