Tsar Cannon, Siege artillery in Moscow, Russia
This bronze weapon stands today on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin near the Ivan the Great Bell Tower and ranks among the largest cannons ever cast. The four decorated cannonballs beside the barrel are later ornamental additions made from the same material, weighing several tons together.
Andrey Chokhov cast this weapon in 1586 during the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich at the Moscow Kremlin. The piece was created at a time of constant threats from invaders to the east and south, when defending the capital was a top priority.
The name refers to the extraordinary size of this bronze weapon, which has served for centuries as a symbol of Russian craftsmanship and power. Visitors today can examine the detailed relief work on the barrel, considered a masterpiece of late Renaissance metalwork in Moscow.
The weapon stands in the open air on a stone platform in the western part of Cathedral Square inside the Kremlin. Visitors can view the exhibit up close, with barriers maintaining a respectful distance.
A 1980 examination found gunpowder residue inside the barrel, disproving the widespread assumption that the weapon was never fired. The enormous caliber made transport and handling extremely difficult, so actual battlefield use would have been hardly practical.
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