The Thunder Stone and Bronze Horseman: The Monolithic Savior of St Petersburg?

The Bronze Horseman is a monument located in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. The pedestal of this equestrian statue is known as the Thunder Stone, a monolith claimed to be the largest block of stone to have ever been moved by human beings. Today, the Bronze Horseman is one of the most recognizable symbols in Saint Petersburg. In addition, the transporting of the Thunder Stone to the city during the 18th century is also an incredible feat in itself.

Although the Bronze Horseman was created during the 18th century, its current name is derived from Alexander Pushkin’s 1833 poem, The Bronze Horseman: A Petersburg Tale , which is often considered to be one of the greatest works of Russian literature. The statue actually was the inspiration for Pushkin to write the poem. As its name suggests, this monument is an equestrian statue.

A Commemoration of Peter the Great

The Bronze Horseman is a representation of the first Emperor of Russia, Peter the Great (Peter I). Peter the Great was a ruler of the Tsardom of Russia (the Russian Empire from 1721) who lived between the 17th and 18th centuries. He is often considered to be one of most successful rulers in Russian history and he accomplished much during his reign. It was thanks to Peter that Russia was transformed into a major European power. This was achieved through Peter’s efforts to modernize and expand his country. Russia continued to exert its influence on the world stage long after Peter’s reign.