Statue of Coronation of Stephen I in Esztergom, Limestone monument on Castle Hill in Esztergom, Hungary.
The statue depicts King Stephen I kneeling to receive a crown from Archbishop Domonkos, with both figures carved from limestone in fine detail. The monument sits on Castle Hill in Esztergom and reaches 12 meters in height.
The sculpture commemorates Stephen I's coronation as Hungary's first king in 1001, the moment that marked the nation's founding as a state. Sculptor Miklós Melocco created the work in 2001 to preserve this pivotal event in stone.
The scene captures a moment central to Hungarian identity: the founding of their state through religious coronation. Visitors see the kneeling king and recognize how faith and worldly power intertwined in the nation's story.
The monument sits at the northern edge of Castle Hill, giving visitors sweeping views of the Danube and the town below. The location is easy to reach and serves as a good landmark once you are on the hilltop.
The crown shown in the statue was meant for Poland originally, but Pope Sylvester II received a dream directing it to Hungary instead. This adds a layer of mystical destiny to the scene that many visitors walk past without noticing.
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