Hi, guys!
Today, we will meet little fantastic creatures who'll tell us their stories. They are the characters of legends, fairy tales, as well as completely true stories.
Last time, walking along Podil district in search of mini-sculptures and originals, that inspired then, we stopped at Kontraktova Square near the fountain "Samson". Another mini-sculpture is dedicated to this fountain. Let's start with it.
Kyiv Samson
We spent the most time looking for her. Its location was marked as "near the business center", but this building turned out to be very large, with several entrances. I had to circle, go into the yard, climb the stairs to the platform, and there .... From this point, you can already see it. But still, without a hint (lawn in the background) I probably would not have seen it.
Here he is, this little hero slaying a lion with his bare hands, whose incredible strength was in his long hair.
And now I will show the original. We will not see Samson alive again, because he died with thousands of enemies under the ruins of the temple, which he himself destroyed when his power returned to him.
Besides, in fact, the mini-sculpture is dedicated not to the legend of Samson, but to the famous fountain installed on the Podil.
When I came to Kyiv as a schoolgirl, we were taken with a guide around the historic center. Although children aren't font of historical facts, dates and names of strangers, but I remember this sculpture very well. It really impressed me with his appearance. It seemed that these figures could be made by a high school student, okay, by a good one. After all, it was strange to see that someone takes seriously such a "miracle".
In fact, now I believe that it's not so much a monument to the sculptor's skill as a historical monument.
The Samson Fountain is the oldest fountain in Kyiv (1748). It was built on the site of an even more ancient water over which a wooden figure of an angel with a bowl was built. Wooden pipes converged on the pool, through which spring water flowed from the numerous hills surrounding Podil. The richer ones ran the water supply directly to their estates, and the poorer ones were able to get water directly from the well in the central square, which was then Kontraktova - the well stood not far from the Magistrate's building.
Later the angel was replaced by the figure of Samson killing the lion. Locals and pilgrims liked the fountain with Samson. Legends and signs associated with it began to appear. It was said that whoever drank "holy Samson's water" would stay in Kyiv forever. (But don't try to do it now! Instead of clean key water, special substances circulate in the fountain to prevent siltation of pipes.)
The fountain is also very much loved by prisoners, thieves, and bandits. Thieves' legend says that someone who is released from prison must go straight to the fountain and walk around it three times. And then there will be no return to prison. Kyiv swindlers gathered here before a "serious case."
In Soviet times, the fountain was removed due to a misunderstanding. The administrative chief, having inspected the territory, saw a heap of rubbish, and exclaimed pointing towards the fountain: "Clean up immediately!" The fountain was removed and restored only in 1982.
Kyiv Hero Kozhumiaka
Sonja, as well as every child in Ukraine knows the legendary Kyrylo Kozhumyaka. Kyrylo lived in Kyiv near the area we have already visited and was engaged in cutting leather.
"When Kyrylo floods the house, the smoke spreads under the heavens; and when he goes out on the Dnieper River to wet the leather (because he is Leatherer), he carries not one, but twelve together…".
According to legend, at the same time in Kyiv lived the Serpent - a terrible monster, to which the people of Kyiv had to pay tribute every year: a boy or a girl. Finally, it was the prince's daughter's turn.
It was he who, thanks to his strength and courage, managed to save the lands of Kyiv from the terrible dragon.
Surely, there is no material evidence as to Dragon's existence since Kyrylo burnt it and scattered its ashes to the four winds.
By the way, Sonia seems not afraid of him either.
The mini-sculpture is installed at the entrance to Healthy Pleasure Club 5 element. It is far from touristic itineraries. And I am not sure what exactly healthy pleasures are but it's definitely expensive because I saw only Porches and luxury Mercedeses in their parking.
Are there small elephants? Of course. The only question is how small. And Sonya will show you today that there is one tiny elephant, besides very friendly.
Sonya asked me: what does Kyiv have in common with an elephant? I didn't know the answer, and I could hardly have guessed.
Now not every Kyivan knows about this fountain, and once it was one of the symbols of the city.
During Stalin's time, the former Merchant Park began to be turned into Pionersky. The park was populated with sculptures of pioneers, and the Elephant took the place of Apollo.
It is believed that the idea of a fountain with an elephant was taken from Hugo's novel "Les Misérables", which describes the famous Parisian waterfall - Elephant from Place de la Bastille.
The fountain was one of the few that survived the military bombing and after the war became something like a symbol of the revival of the surviving city. It impresses, indeed.
source
It was depicted on post-war postcards and filmed. In 1979, the Communist Party's leadership approved a project of a monument dedicated to the "historical reunification of Ukraine with Russia" and the arch of "Friendship of Peoples". And The Elephant was dismantled.
Kyiv Tram
The last but not least friendly creature. His smile is so sweet xo
This sculpture is dedicated to the Kyiv electric tram.
The first electric-powered tram in the former Russian Empire was launched in Kyiv in 1892. It replaced a horse-drawn tram, as well as a steam-powered tram.
On the 9th of September, 1891, they started to construct a temporary power station and to lay rails. All works were finished before April, 1892. On the 1st of June, 1892, they started passenger service on the tram line with a track length of 1,5 km.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 50.438547 lat 30.522083 long Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them in Kyiv. p. #17 d3scr)
Many tram lines have now been dismantled. But many still drive, and the condition of tram rails, especially in Podil, is as if they were laid back in those old times...
Well, that's all, folks. I hope you didn't freeze up. There is still snow in Kyiv. But spring is around the corner, so stay warm and take care!
Previous mini-symbols of Kyiv and their's stories:
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