The Millennium of Russia

On September 8th, 1862 the Monument to the Millennium of Russia sculpted by Mikhail Mikeshin was erected in the Novgorod Kremlin. The sculpture is meant to celebrate the millennium of Rurik's arrival to Novgorod, the point at which Russian history is said to have begun.

The sculpture is made up of three tiers. The first tier consists of a young woman and angel dressed in national costume surrounding a cross to represent Russia. The second tier is composed of six figures, each representing different eras of the Russian state. The third tier is a relief illustrating 109 eminent figures of the country. Although the Nazis dismantled the monument during World War II, the Red Army regained control of Novgorod and resurrected the Millennium of Russia once again on November 2nd, 1944.