Moloch of Totalitarism, Memorial monument at Levashovo Memorial Cemetery, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The Moloch of Totalitarism is a concrete sculpture at the entrance of Levashovo Cemetery in Saint Petersburg, designed to represent the oppressive power of totalitarian systems. The artwork stands as the focal point of a memorial space where personal plaques and graves surround the central monument.
The memorial was created in 1996 by sculptors Nina Galitskaia and Vitaly Gambarov to commemorate victims of Soviet repression. The cemetery itself became a burial ground during the darkest years of political persecution in the Soviet Union.
The monument serves as a place where people gather to remember those who suffered under Soviet oppression and to reflect on this dark chapter. Visitors come to honor the dead and ensure their stories remain part of the historical memory.
The cemetery is accessible by public transportation and features paved pathways, though some routes may be muddy after rain. Visitors should allow enough time to walk through the grounds at a reflective pace.
More than 1,300 personal memorial plaques encircle the main sculpture, with each one representing someone whose remains rest in mass graves across the cemetery grounds. These plaques are often modest yet moving, serving as a way for people to acknowledge and honor those who might otherwise be forgotten.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
