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Entries / Thunder-stone

Thunder-stone


Categories / Architecture/Sculpture, Monuments

THUNDER-STONE, the name of the granite monolith, that serves as a pedestal to the equestrian statue of Emperor Peter the Great (see Bronze Horseman). It was discovered in 1768 in the forest near Konnaya Lakhta village by a local, S.G. Vishnyakov, (it was named the Thunder-stone because according to legend thunder split a piece of it). Sculptor E. Falconet intended to work it on the spot, but Empress Catherine II ordered to deliver it to St. Petersburg in its original shape. On 1 April 1769, the land transportation of the thunder-stone (weighing 1.6 thousand tonnes) started. To transport it by sea a special ship, Korchebnikov's vessel, was constructed. On 26 September 1770, the thunder-stone was mounted on Senate Square. To commemorate this event at Empress Catherine II's behest a bronze medal with the legend "Close to Daring” was issued.

Reference: Иванов Г. И. Камень-Гром. СПб., 1994.

I. A. Bogdanov.

Persons
Catherine II, Empress
Falconet Etienne Maurice
Korchebnikov Grigory
Peter I, Emperor
Vishnyakov S.G.

Bibliographies
Иванов Г. И. Камень-Гром. СПб., 1994

The subject Index
Bronze Horseman

Chronograph
1770


Bronze Horseman

BRONZE HORSEMAN, the popular name of the monument to Emperor Peter the Great on Dekabristov Square. Originated from Alexander Pushkin's poem of the same name (1833); one of the best known Russian monuments and world monumental sculptures