Mahlun Maapallopatsas, Stone sculpture in Mahlu, Finland
Mahlun Maapallopatsas is a stone sculpture in Mahlu village that measures roughly 4 meters tall and 5 meters wide. It depicts Jesus in three scenes: preaching at Golgotha, on the cross, and as a child with the Virgin Mary.
A local gunsmith named Matti Rutanen built this monument between 1950 and 1955 using his own money and skills. He combined his craft with deep religious conviction to create what became his life's work.
The base features a frieze with small figures made of cement and copper that tell religious stories. Copper plates with stamped inscriptions add layers of spiritual meaning to what you see as you walk around it.
The sculpture sits along the road between Saarijärvi and Pylkönmäki in Mahlu village. A car is the best way to reach it, and local contact information is available for those who wish to learn more.
The entire work was created using only handmade tools that Rutanen forged himself to stamp the copper plates. These homemade implements reveal how fully committed he was to every detail of his creation.
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