The Peter the Great Monument in Moscow is renowned for its cumbersome appearance but it is a striking sight worth seeing. Visit the site, study the structure and join the debate: Is it bold and beautiful or just awkward?
See this one-of-a-kind monument that was constructed as part of the celebrations for Moscow’s 850th anniversary. Peter the Great, the main figure of the statue, was one of the most defining rulers in Russia history. He reigned from 1682 to 1725 and created the city of St. Petersburg, while driving policies that encouraged Westernization across this huge country.
The 322-foot-tall (98-meter) statue by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli sits on a spit of land near the Moskva River and Vodootvodny Canal. Claiming the title of the tallest monument in the country, it depicts Peter the Great at the front of a ship, victoriously brandishing a gold scroll. Peter the Great’s own imposing figure is well represented in the sculpture. He was reportedly 6 feet 8 inches (2 meters) tall. Note how his giant figure almost dwarfs the body of the boat in this monument. The nautical elements of the bronze and steel sculpture are also important to note as Peter the Great was the ruler who established Russia’s navy.
The sculpture has many other details. Look for one of several St. Andrews flags on the ship and several other model boats emerging from the column the ship is on. Gaze farther down and you will see a fountain at the bottom of the monument. The water flows from it in a way that mimics waves beneath a sailing boat.
To see the Peter the Great Monument, take a bus to nearby locations. Combine a trip here with a visit to the nearby Fallen Monument Park, which features a garden full of Soviet-era sculptures.