The building of the Academy of Fine Arts, located on Vasilyevsky Island north of the capital, is the cultural composition, one of the unofficial symbols of St. Petersburg.This ancient sculptures that are much older than the city on the Neva - Sphinx on the University Embankment.Their age, according to scientists, is three and a half thousand years.
total of fourteen city like statues.But sphinxes on the University's most famous promenade.They are popular not only with tourists, with great pleasure visiting the city, but also in St. Petersburg.
Sphinxes, located on the University Embankment, were discovered in 1820 during excavations of the city of Thebes, who conducted an expedition under the leadership of the Greek Egyptologist Janis Atonazisa money English consulate.According to reports, the two monumental sculptures made of pink granite, is on the west bank of the Nile at the Colossi of Memnon and represented the "protection" of the tomb of the pharaoh Aminhotepa III, who ruled Upper and Lower Egypt.Due to the fact that the funds were allocated England, Yanni (nickname scholar) most of the findings should be give to the collection of the British consul in this country - Henry Salt.There also were sent to our Sphynx.Salt sculptures moved to Alexandria, close to the coast, where they were seen by the hero of the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, Andrei Muraviev, who immediately notified Nicholas first need to purchase the statues.Europe in those years was a keen Egyptologist so be sure autocrat was not difficult.By order of the emperor of the treasury have been allocated 64 thousand rubles, and the sphinx were purchased.In May 1832 a special fortified ship they were taken to St. Petersburg, the imperial capital.
originally not supposed Quay with Sphinxes beautify the city, there had to be other sculptures - horses Klodt.But the decision of the architect K. Ton, designed the quay, to 1834 there were built special pedestals weighing 23 tons each, which were installed 62-ton Egyptian statues.Later on each pedestal was carved an inscription with information about them.
Sphinx - mythical creature.It is a lion with a human head.Each Sphinx on the University Embankment - a wonderful representative symbol of courage, wisdom and dignity, which is what these animals.The profile of each user's profile resembles the king.The head, which is topped with a crown, cape, and covers the shoulders, and on his forehead adorned cobra - a symbol of protection of the pharaohs.On the neck of the statue - six-row beads, which are also a sign of power.On the chest - a medallion with the name carved Aminhotepa III.
Quay with Sphinxes, a photo that is presented in the article are a magnificent example of ancient Egyptian art masons.Their image was embodied not only in the works of artists.They dedicated their poems geniuses of literature.
