Kört-Aika Monument

The Kört-Aika Monument is a steel statue located at the entrance to the village of Kortkeros, Kortkerossky District, Komi Republic, Russia. It is a statue of a man pulling up several boats with his chains.

Features

The Kört-Aika Monument is a steel statue that is 100 by 100 millimetres (3.9 in × 3.9 in) in height, and 80 by 80 millimetres (3.1 in × 3.1 in) in length, with the chains measured in 40 by 4 millimetres (1.57 in × 0.16 in) in length. The statue weighs around 1 tonne (2,200 lb).

History

Yuri Shagunov, president of the Russian Union of Blacksmiths, commissioned the monument's construction to two blacksmiths, Alexander Sushnikov (from St. Petersburg) and Georgii Gorbachev (from Moscow). It was initially installed in the courtyard of a local blacksmith, Igor Usachev, before being built at the village's entrance on November 12.

Controversy

Some residents objected to the statue's existence, as they considered it to promote a revival of the native Komi religion. Furthermore, some residents also considered the statue to be a monument of a robber.

In response, the statue's creators stated that it is not a pagan monument, but a work of art. The local diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church also stated that the statue does not bear any religious or ideological motive.

See also

• Komi mythology

External links

• International Festival of Blacksmith Art "Kort Aika" (Russian)