Alexander Column

Is this towering giant before us held up by magic? Look up at the Alexander Column. It dominates Palace Square in Saint Petersburg. It’s a monument to Russian victory over Napoleon. The Alexander Column, named after Emperor Alexander I, is a breathtaking blend of art and engineering. Designed by Auguste de Montferrand, it was erected between 1830 and 1834. The column stands an impressive 47.5 meters tall. Atop, an angel holding a cross gazes down. This angel, sculpted by Boris Orlovsky, bears a striking resemblance to Alexander I. The Alexander Column itself is a single piece of red granite. This massive monolith, 25.45 meters long and 3.5 meters in diameter, was quarried in Virolahti, Finland. Transporting this 600-ton giant to Saint Petersburg was a feat in itself. It required a specially designed barge. Even more astonishing, 3,000 men erected the Alexander Column in under two hours. No cranes, no modern machinery, just sheer manpower and ingenuity. The column stands perfectly balanced, held by its weight alone. Look closely at the pedestal. It’s adorned with bronze bas-reliefs. These intricate carvings, designed by Giovanni Battista Scotti, celebrate military glory. One side, facing the Winter Palace, depicts winged figures presenting a plaque. The inscription reads, “To Alexander I from a grateful Russia”. Images of the Neman and Vistula Rivers symbolize the war’s key battles. Other sides display allegorical figures of Wisdom, Abundance, Justice, Mercy, Peace, and Victory. These figures are surrounded by Roman military symbols and historic Russian armor. The Alexander Column has seen its share of history. There were even rumors during the Soviet era of replacing the angel with a statue of Stalin. Thankfully, that never happened. A cast-iron railing, removed during Soviet times, was restored in 2002, returning the Alexander Column to its original grandeur.