Monument to the founders of Kiev: history, legends and interesting facts

Everyone knows a monument to the founders of Kiev. This is a sculptural group, built in 1982 in honor of the celebration of the 1500th anniversary of the Ukrainian capital. This is a composition of wrought copper, which is a flat shuttle, on which are three figures of the founders of the city, whose names came to us from legends. But how was it really? Is this one monument in Kiev? What does it matter to the capital of the country? What is his role on the Day of Kiev? About this and many other things we learn from the article below.

Legend

"The Tale of Bygone Years" tells us that the Slavic tribe of glades lived on the banks of the Danube in the first centuries of our era. Then, pressed by the Romans (Greeks or Romans), they moved to the east and settled on Borysfene (that's how the Dnieper was called in that era). And that allegedly three brothers - Horeb, Kiy, Shchek - and sister Lybid founded a city-state on the banks of this great river. They named him in honor of Prince Glade. He was the eldest of the brothers, Kiy.

The exact time of his reign does not convey the chronicle, but it is believed that this could be after the collapse of the Hun Empire, which included the Slavic lands. And since it was in the four hundred and fifty-third year of our era, the age of Kiev was also calculated from this symbolic date. Further the chronicle complains that after the death of the brothers the glade fell under the power of the Khazars and began to pay tribute to them.

What do scientists say

The monument to the founders of Kiev, thus, was built taking into account historical facts. However, many scientists believe that this chronicle story is nothing more than a legend. After all, this is the only mention of the three brothers and sister, and other data about them is not preserved. There are versions that this legend entered the annals during the reign of the Varangian princes Askold and Dir in order that they better understand what people and lands they should manage. But the migration of the Slavs to the Dnieper really has indirect confirming facts. In the hundred and sixth year, the emperor Trajan conquered the area near the Danube, and the surrounding tribes could be pushed north. And finally the Slavs settled on the Dnieper during the Hun conquest.

How to build a monument to the founders of Kiev

Initially, it was to be put on the pylon of the Moscow Bridge. But then it turned out that it could be broken or crushed by strong winds. Therefore, the place where the sculptural group was to stand was the embankment of the Dnieper. This is Navodnitsky Park. The monument is located near the metro station "Dnepr", in view of the famous Paton Bridge.

The authors of this composition were the architect Feshchenko and the artist, a master of stone and iron Vasily Boroday. The latter was the author of the famous complex "Motherland", which is located opposite the sculptural group of the founders of the capital.

The material for the statues themselves was chosen reinforced concrete, and covered it with copper. The fact is that then it was impossible to make sculptures from non-ferrous metals. The boat, on which the figures of brothers and sisters are standing, is placed on a granite pedestal. It is surrounded by a swimming pool. The length of the canoe is about nine meters, and the height of the sculptures is about 4 meters.

But the time was passing, and the metal gradually gave way to corrosion. And in 2010 the sculptures of the brothers Shchek and Horeb fell. It was necessary to restore the monument to the founders of Kiev. His reopening took place in May 2010, that is, a few months after the fall of the figures. The current sculptures are made of bronze.

Traces in the toponymy and geography of Kiev

Not only the embankment of the Dnieper preserved the memory of the founders of the city. After all, according to the chronicle, brothers and sister were amazed by the beauty of the local hills. Therefore, they first founded three settlements, which later merged into one. And in the modern city there are still two hills - Kiyanitsa and Shchekavitsa, on which, according to legend, the initial fortifications were first built. There is also a Horyva street within the capital and a small river called Lybid. Another monument to the founders of Kiev was built on the main square of the country - Independence Square.

Value

This sculptural group has a special meaning for the inhabitants of Kiev. On the day when young people combine in the capital by marriage, they come to this boat on the embankment and shower it with flowers. There is a belief that this can bring happiness to newlyweds. But for this you need to stand with your back to the sculptures and throw a bouquet over your head.

But on the Day of Kiev, which is solemnly celebrated for many years on the last Sunday in May, they prefer to visit that monument on the Maidan. This is also a very beautiful composition, but more modern. It depicts a hill on which three brothers stand. Each of them has a symbolic role: one is a warrior and a defender, the other is a hunter with a bow and a horn, and the third is a tiller. After all, the very word "glade" was due to the fact that the Slavs of this tribe preferred to conduct the agrarian way of life. And their sister Lybid stands behind them on top of a hill and as if hovers over everything.

The festival itself began to celebrate the city since 1982, just before the 1500th anniversary of the Ukrainian capital. Since then, in the last May weekend, there are opening days, folk festivals, sports competitions, festivals, grand concerts in the Maidan, and in the evening - a laser show with fireworks over the Dnieper.