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Bogdan Khmelnitskiy monument

The monument to famous Ukrainian historical and political figure hetman Bogdan Khmelnitskiy is located on the Sophievska square in front of the Sophievskiy Cathedral.

The monument was opened on July 11, 1888 to honor the 900th anniversary since the Kiev Russ was baptized.

The composition of the monument is very dynamic. The rider stops abruptly his horse. This is a symbol of brave general stopping the movement and indicating to the north-east (on this square December 23, 1648 the citizens of Kiev were waiting for Bogdan Khmelnitskiy and its soldiers after the victory over the Piliavets).

You can observe a very strong personality of Bogdan Khmelnitskiy which is very well represented by the raised right hand with mace and by the way he stopped his horse. The sculpture is intended to be seen from all the sides. The beauty of contours and the beauty of little details are very well seen thanks to the high pedestal that looks like a barrow.

The horse is also represented with great attention to details – the silhouette, the shape of legs and head that he raised. The folds on the clothes of hetman increase the dynamic composition of the monument. While creating the face the author of the monument was widely using the iconography of Bogdan Khmelnitskiy, he gave him some of his portrait traits and also made him look very severe and determined.

Today this monument is truly one of the symbols of Kiev.