The Glory Monument in Poltava
The Glory Monument is a primary sight of central Poltava where eight streets converge radially. It was unveiled on the exact site where a meeting between the Russian Army headed by Tsar Peter I and Poltava fortress’ garrison headed by Colonel Kelin took place soon after the Battle of Poltava.
On the eve of the meeting a large triumphal arch was built there. The monument was designed by a local architect M.Amvrosimov and some changes were put to the rough sketch by famous Russian architect (of French origin) Thomas de Thomon. About 135,000 rubles were collected throughout the country for this project.Governor-General Count Alexey Kurakin laid a foundation stone on June 27th 1804. The square granite pedestal of the monument has a shape of the fortress and is fenced in with many cast-iron ground-directed swords symbolize peace. Eighteen guns that were in use during the battle were mounted into its foundation. The monument’s high cast-iron column was manufactured in Lugansk (Eastern Ukraine) and crowned with gilded bronze eagle holding arrows in his claws and fastening his eyes towards the battlefield. Tsar Alexander I personally donated an eagle and bronze decorations moulding created in St.Petersburg by master of art casting P.Ekimov. An official opening ceremony took place on June 27th 1811.
In 1802 Poltava was named as an administrative center of a newly established government. All buildings around the central square were designed in a classic style by famous Russian architect A.Zakharov and completed during the first decade of XVIII century. In 1840 a military school named after Peter I was opened close to the monument. A square around the monument was used as a drill square until 1852 when a park was created around the Glory Monument by the order of Tsar Nikolay I. The monument’s fate has been fortunate, as it was not looted during the nearly two centuries that have passed since the opening ceremony. In 1974, 2004 and 2009 it was completely renovated.