Statues - Hither & Thither |
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Budapest
Budapest Főváros Hősök tere |
Millenniumi emlékműMillennium Memorial |
Various sculptors
R. Vignali (Budapest) 1896-1906 (1946-55) |
The Millennium Memorial (also known as Millennium Monument or Millenary Monument) commemorates the thousandth anniversary of the arrival in the Carpathan basin of the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century, which was celebrated in 1896. The construction of the memorial was started in 1896, but it was partly finished only in 1900 and the square got its name then (Hősök tere = Heroes' Square). It includes statues of the leaders of these seven tribes and other outstanding figures of Hungarian history. In the Second World War is was damaged, and in the 1950s the statues of five Habsburg kings and the reliefs showing Habsburg history were replaced by statues Hungarian leaders, who revolted against the Habsburg rulers.
At the front of the monument is a large stone cenotaph surrounded by an ornamental iron chain. The cenotaph is dedicated To the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of our people and our national independence.
The architect was Schickedanz Albert.
Sculptors of the original monument:
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Sculptors of the statues and reliefs replaced in the 1950s are:
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1. Gábriel arkangyal - Archangel Gabriel, (Hebrew: גַּבְרִיאֵל, 'God is my strength'), archangel who serves as a messenger to humans from God
(Wikipedia)..
5 m (15 feet) tall statue on a 36 m (120 feet) tall column. In his right hand the angel holds the Holy Crown of St. Stephen (Istvan), the first king of Hungary. In his left hand the angel holds a two barred apostolic cross, a symbol awarded to St. Stephen by the Pope in recognition of his efforts to convert Hungary to Christianity.
Sculpted by Zala György, 1900.
At the base of the column is a group of seven equestrian statues by by Zala György (Árpád 1912, the others 1928) and six chieftains of the Magyars at the time of their arrival to the Carpathian Basin in 895 AD, according to the Hungarian chronicler known as Anonymus, author of Gesta Hungarorum. See Wikipedia Seven chieftains of the Magyars (the seventh is Álmos, the father of Árpád). Their names are in the plinth.
Sculpted by Zala György.
2. ÁRPÁD Árpád (c. 840 - c. 907), the second Grand Prince of the Hungarians (Magyars), c. 895 - c. 907, son of Álmos. Under his rule the Hungarian people settled in the Carpathian basin. The dynasty descending from him ruled the Principality of Hungary and later the Kingdom of Hungary until 1301. (Wikipedia). |
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3. ELŐD
Előd, chieftain of the Hungarian tribe of the Nyék in the 9th century. The Nyék tribe occupied the region around Lake Balaton, mainly the areas what are known today Zala and Somogy counties
(Wikipedia).
4. KOND Kond (Könd, Kund, Kend, Kende, Kurszán), chieftain of a Hungarian tribe in the 9th century (Wikipedia). |
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5. HUBA
Huba, chieftain of the Hungarian tribe of the White Magyars in the 9th century. This tribe occupied the region of the present towns of Győr and Komárom
(Wikipedia).
6. OND Ond, chieftain of a Hungarian tribe in the 9th century (Wikipedia). |
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7. TAS
Tas, chieftain of the Hungarian tribe of the Tarján in the 9th century
(Wikipedia).
8. TÉTÉNY (Töhötöm) Töhötöm, Tühütüm or Tétény, chieftain of a Hungarian tribe in the 9th century (Wikipedia). (Wikipedia). |
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The back of the monument consists of two matched 20 m high colonnades, each with seven statues representing great figures of Hungarian history with bronze reliefs of their main action below each figure. On the faces of the outer edges are the years:
Topping the edges of these colonnades are four sculpture groups, all by Zala György:
9. Munka és Jólét - Labor and Wealth (1899) |
10. Tudás és Dicsőség -
Knowledge and Glory (1898).
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11. Háború - War |
12. Béke - Peace |
Various sculptors made the statues (2.8 m - 9 feet tall) in the colonnades, the reliefs (115 x 250 cm - 3'9" x 8'2") were originally all by Zala, but some are later replaced with others.
When the monument was originally constructed, Hungary was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and thus the last five spaces for statues on the right colonnade were reserved for members of the ruling Habsburg dynasty. These were: Ferdinand I (relief: Defense of the Castle at Eger); Leopold I (relief: Eugene of Savoy defeats the Turks at Zenta), Charles III, Maria Theresa (relief: The Hungarian Diet votes support 'vitam et sanguinem') and Franz Joseph (relief: Franz Joseph crowned by Gyula Andrássy). The monument was damaged in World War II and when it was rebuilt the Habsburgs were replaced by the current figures.
North (left) colonnade | ||
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13. SZENT ISTVÁN 997-1038 / Saint Stephen I of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1912 Gerő writes: "Saint István (King Stephen) (997-1038), the Hungarian prince who converted the people to Christianity and, by accepting his crown from the Pope in 1001, had elevated Hungary to the status of kingdom and established it as a state in accordance with contemporary European norms, is represented in the first statue." |
14. SZENT LÁSZLÓ 1077-1095 / Saint Ladislaus I of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1909 |
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15. KÖNYVES KÁLMÁN 1095-1116 / King Coloman I the Book-lover Signed: Füredi Relief: Sculpted by by Antal Károly, 1955 Originally here was the relief 'Conquest of Croatia and Dalmatia' by Zala György. This was removed since it depicted territorial expansion. |
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16. II. ANDRÁS 1205-1235 / King Andrew II of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György. Gerő writes: "The next scene emphasizes Hungary's inseparability from Europe: the participation of King András II in medieval Europe's largest collective enterprise, the Crusades, symbolizing the active defence of the Christian faith and Christian devotion." |
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17. IV. BÉLA 1235-1270 / King Béla IV of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1912 Gerő writes: "The next relief depicts the Mongol Invasion of 1241-2, which dealt a devastating blow to the country. King Béla IV (1235-70) is shown rebuilding the medieval Hungarian state from the ruins of the invasion, embodying the ideal of unceasing, heroic activity and the spirit of reconstruction." |
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18. KÁROLY RÓBERT 1307-1342 / King Charles I of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1912 |
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19. NAGY LAJOS 1342-1382 / King Louis I of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1913. "The reign of Lajos I the Great (1342-82) saw the greatest expansion of territory in the nation's history. The relief focuses on the King's entry into Naples in 1348, where he was received by Johanna its ruler. (Lajos was later forced to relinquish possession of Naples, though he did receive financial compensation.)" |
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South (right) colonnade | ||
20. HUNYADI JÁNOS 1446-1452 / János Hunyadi Relief: Sculpted by by Zala György, 1912. Gerő writes: "The next statue represents [originally] the only commoner in the monument, János Hunyadi (b. 1407?-56), who despite being only the governor of Hungary held the actual power. The event recorded on the relief is one of global importance. In 1456, at Belgrade, Hunyadi's forces halted the Turkish onslaught, ensuring not only the security of Hungary, but that of all Europe. The relief shows a scene in which a Turkish soldier, who had attempted to hoist a Turkish banner on a parapet of the besieged fortress, is seized by a Hungarian soldier, the two of them plummeting together to their deaths. The inclusion of the Battle of Belgrade in the monument was meant to demonstrate that Hungary had not only defended its own territorial integrity, but had heroically defended Europe and European civilization." |
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21. MÁTYÁS 1458-1490 / King Matthias I of Hungary Relief: Sculpted by Zala György, 1909Signed: gzala - r. vignali b.pest Gerő writes: "The final figure in this series is the great Renaissance ruler, Mátyás Hunyadi (Matthias Corvinus), who ruled (1458-90) after his father, the governor. Renowned for his humanist learning and enlightened court, Mátyás is depicted in the relief surrounded by scholars. By emphasizing Mátyás' role as a great patron of arts and sciences, the magnitude of the nation's cultural contribution was also expressed." |
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22. BOCSKAI ISTVÁN 1604-1606 / István Bocskay Relief: Sculpted by Marton László, 1953 Originally here stood a statue of Ferdinand I by Margó Ede (1905) with relief 'Defense of the Castle at Eger' by Zala György, removed 1945. The statue of Bocskay István stood originally on Kodály Körönd, where it was replaced by a statue of Szondi György. |
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23. BETHLEN GÁBOR 1613-1629 / Gabriel Bethlen Relief: Sculpted by Szabó István, 1955 Originally here stood a statue of Charles III by Telcs Ede (1912) with relief by Zala György, removed 1945. This statue of Bethlen Gábor stood originally on Kodály Körönd, where it was replaced by a statue of Bottyán János. |
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24. THÖKÖLY IMRE 1678-1685 / Imre Thököly Signed: grantner 1954 Relief: Sculpted by Grantner Jenő, 1946 Originally here stood a statue of Maria Theresa by Zala György (1911), damaged in the Second World War, restored in 2002 and now at Gödöllő castle, with relief 'The Hungarian Diet votes support 'vitam et sanguinem'' by Zala György. |
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25. II. RÁKÓCZI FERENC 1703-1711 / Francis II Rákóczi Relief: Sculpted by Kisfaludi Strobl Zsigmond, 1955 Originally here stood a statue of Leopold I by Füredi Richárd (1905), damaged in the Second World War, with relief 'Eugene of Savoy defeats the Turks at Zenta' by Zala György. |
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26. KOSSUTH LAJOS 1848-1849 / Lajos Kossuth Relief: Sculpted by Kisfaludi Strobl Zsigmond, 1955 Originally here stood a statue of Franz Joseph I by Zala György (1906, broken; new version 1926), removed 1945, with relief 'Franz Joseph crowned by Gyula Andrássy' by Zala György. |
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