Monument to the Founders of Kyiv, Monument by Dnieper River, Ukraine
The Monument to the Founders of Kyiv is made of copper and concrete, showing four figures arranged in a boat shape representing the legendary brothers Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv, and their sister Lybid. The sculpture stands along the Dnipro riverbank in Navodnytsky Park and reaches about 6 meters (about 20 feet) in height.
The monument was unveiled in 1982 to mark the 1,500th anniversary of Kyiv, referencing the mythical founders from the 5th century. After corrosion damage caused two figures to fall in 2010, the entire sculpture was restored and rebuilt with a reinforced internal framework.
The design combines ancient Slavic craft traditions with Soviet monumental art, while the female figure was modeled after sculptor Vasyl Boroday's daughter. Locals often leave flowers or take photos in front of the sculpture, especially during city anniversary celebrations.
The sculpture is located along the riverbank between Dnipro metro station and Paton Bridge, with good access by public transport. Walking paths along the river lead directly to the monument and offer a pleasant route through the park.
After a structural failure in 2010 when two of the figures collapsed, the monument received an entirely new internal construction using waterproof concrete. The restoration took several months and required specialists to recast the metal parts and renew the internal reinforcement.
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