Capitoline Wolf, Chișinău, Bronze public forum monument at National Museum of History, Chișinău, Moldova.
The Capitoline Wolf is a bronze sculpture on a granite base positioned at the National Museum of History, standing approximately 0.75 meters tall and depicting the legendary she-wolf nursing two infants. The work occupies a prominent place near the museum entrance and merges ancient imagery with a contemporary public setting.
Alexandru Plămădeală created this work in 1920 when Moldova was redefining itself following World War I and establishing its independence. The monument reflects the artistic drive of that era to express national identity through European symbolism.
The sculpture connects classical Roman symbolism with Moldova's sense of national identity. It demonstrates how ancient European heritage was embraced locally as a way to establish cultural roots during a transformative period.
The monument sits outside the museum entrance and can be viewed without entering the building. Visitors should approach during daylight hours to see the details of the bronze surface and granite base clearly.
The artist deliberately chose the iconic Roman wolf symbolism even though this was not part of Moldovan mythology, creating an artificial bridge between two cultural worlds. This choice reveals how 20th century artworks constructed national identities through borrowed historical references.
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