Monument to Afanasy Nikitin in Tver and other cities

One of the symbols of the city of Tver is a monument to Athanasius Nikitin, a local merchant, traveler and writer. Due to its original execution, this sculpture attracts locals and tourists, surprising and amazing every time. What is the history of this majestic monument?

The achievements of Afanasy Nikitin

In 1468-1475 the Tver merchant went to sea voyage with trading purposes. During this trip, he discovered India, describing the political and economic situation in the country. In his notes Afanasy Nikitin paid considerable attention to the culture of this state, as well as the life of its inhabitants. However, throughout the world, the most famous date for the discovery of India, it was made by the European traveler Vasco da Gama in 1498-1502, that is, it happened for a whole thirty years later.

In his notes Athanasius also recorded many interesting facts about Ethiopia, Turkey and Persia. The records of the merchant's travels have been preserved to the present day in the form of a voluminous collection "The Journey of Three Seas" and recognized as an important literary monument.

History of the monument

The monument to Afanasy Nikitin in Tver was established and was inaugurated in 1955. The sculpture of the merchant rises on the pedestal. In one hand Nikitin holds a letter. The surrounding space is stylized beneath the deck of the ship, and in front of the figure Athanasius the nose of the ship proudly protrudes, executed in the form of a carved horse. "The ship" is located on the embankment of the Volga, exactly opposite the place from which the merchant really went to his great voyage. The monument to Afanasy Nikitin was created by the sculptors AP. Zavalova and S.M. With the participation of the architect G.A. Zakharova.

Similar monuments in other cities

To date, Tver Afanasy Nikitin is not the only one in the world. Sculptures in honor of this great navigator and researcher are also established in other cities and countries. Disputes about the installation site was not even conducted when they created the first monument to Afanasy Nikitin. Tver is the native city of this great man. However, his contribution to science and literature is so great that after a while it was decided to open several more monuments - in the Crimea and India. In 2002, the sculpture of a navigator was installed in the city of Revdande, near the place where the merchant had supposedly stepped on Indian soil for the first time. Approximately six months later, another monument to Athanasius Nikitin appeared in Bidar. In 2008, a similar sculpture appeared in Feodosia (during the Middle Ages - Kafa). The monument was erected near the Orthodox church, which Nikitin visited while in these parts.