Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky in Kyiv, Bronze monument at Sophiivska Square, Kyiv, Ukraine
The Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky is a bronze equestrian statue on Sophiivska Square in Kyiv, showing the hetman on his horse with raised mace. The sculpture rests on a heavy base and forms the center of the open square between two historic church buildings.
The unveiling took place in July 1888 during celebrations for the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Kyiv Rus. The facial features were shaped after historical consultation with Professor Volodymyr Antonovych to ensure accuracy.
The rider sits on a horse with a mace stretched toward the northeast, symbolizing the leadership role of the Cossack hetman in Ukrainian history. The base recalls a burial mound from the steppe and connects Cossack tradition with the national consciousness of Ukraine.
The monument is freely accessible and often serves as a meeting point in central Kyiv. The square lies between Saint Sophia Cathedral and Saint Michael Monastery and is easy to reach on foot.
The sculpture measures more than ten meters in height and ranks among the largest equestrian monuments in the city. The mace pointing northeast symbolically faces toward Moscow and expresses a political stance.
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