Sculptures are known as works of art that shed light on history for centuries and enable elements such as the lives, epics and heroes of the period to reach the present day. While some sculptures are made on behalf of important people and heroes, some are made to describe legendary and mythological beings. In addition to gigantic sculptures that require long efforts, there are modest sculptures with meaningful stories. Some of these statues with interesting stories are as follows;
1- Pegasus and Dragon
For thousands of years, horses have played an important role in transportation, city development and warfare. Until the end of the Second World War, horses were used to haul heavy artillery, transport supplies and for brave soldiers to reach the battlefield. During the Middle Ages, the knights’ most loyal friends were horses.
In 2011, Frank Stronach, founder of the Stronach Group, sketched out what a giant horse sculpture should look like. Five years later, this sketch was brought to life as the 30-foot-tall “Pegasus and Dragon” statue located on the north side of Florida’s Gulfstream Park.
The bronze statue was erected in honor of all horses that made unforgettable contributions to human civilization and is the largest horse statue in the world. This impressive work of art, which took two years to build, is depicted as Pegasus standing on a fallen dragon.
2- Statue of Neptune, God of the Sea
The Sea God Neptune Statue is a statue of Neptune, the Roman mythology counterpart of the Greek mythology sea god Poseidon. Neptune is one of the sons of Saturn and Ops and is associated with the sea and water.
This magnificent statue is located on the coast of Monterrosa and was made in 1910 by the Italian sculptor Arrigo Minerbi of Ferrara. The statue is 82 meters high and creates an image rising from the sea. Although it suffered some damage during World War II, it still stands today and impresses visitors with its splendor.
3- Confucius on Mount Ni
Confucius is one of China’s greatest philosophers and the founder of the “Confucianism” doctrine. The philosopher is believed to have been born in a cave on Mount Ni in Shandong Province, China. According to mythology, Confucius’ mother left him here for a while and was cared for by a tiger and an eagle. In 2018, a giant 71-meter statue of Confucius was erected on Mount Ni. Known as the world’s largest Confucius statue, this monument was built to promote traditional Chinese culture.
4- Nello and Patrasche
The statue Nello and Patrasche is located in front of the Lady Antwerp Cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. The statue is the heroes of the book “A Dog of Flanders” published in 1872. Nello is a poor boy who has lost his family, and Patrasche is an abused dog. The poverty-filled lives of these two friends attracted great attention after the publication of the novel, and it was finally decided to make a sculpture. At the end of the book, Nello and Patrasche are found at the door of the cathedral on a snowy and cold day. But now it’s too late for everything. The statue depicts the last moments of these two friends.
5- Motherland Call
This giant statue, which can be translated into Turkish with the name “The Motherland Calls”, is located in the Russian city of Volgograd (Stalingrad). The statue holds the record for the tallest female statue in Europe and the world. It also has the world’s largest sword on it. The statue depicts a brave woman holding a sword in her right hand and stretching her left arm forward. This structure symbolizes the Motherland’s call to never surrender in war and to defend its land against all enemies.
The 85-meter statue was erected in 1967 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. The war was one of the bloodiest wars in human history, costing the lives of nearly 2 million soldiers. The city of Stalingrad was completely rebuilt after the war and still contains many mass graves today. Around the statue are the graves of Soviet sniper Vasily Zaytsev and Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivanovich Chuikov.
6- The Fork Statue
The Fork Statue, located in Switzerland, is a sculpture that is 8 meters high and 1.3 meters wide. It was designed by Jean-Pierre Zaugg and was buried in the lake in February 1995 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Alimentarium. Although it was originally planned that the statue will only be exhibited for one year, it is still displayed on the lake in front of the museum today. The statue was made to refer to Vevey’s food culture and Nestle’s history.
7- African Renaissance Monument
The African Renaissance Monument is a bronze sculpture that was unveiled in 2010 by the then President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, and is the tallest statue in Africa. The statue commemorates the 50th anniversary of Senegal’s liberation from France and is 48 meters tall. The statue is used every year to attract tourists to the country.
A strong man is depicted holding a small and naked child in one arm, and a woman is depicted in the other arm, who wraps her body in a veil. However, due to being in a Muslim community, the concept of idolatry and the nudity displayed caused a reaction from the locals. The 27 million dollars spent for the construction of the statue and the fact that almost half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line also caused public reaction.
8- Sendai Daikannon
Sendai Daikannon is a giant statue overlooking the city of Sendai in the Tohoku region of Japan. In the past, it was the tallest statue in the world, but currently ranks fifth. The statue is 100 meters long and depicts the goddess of mercy holding a wishing stone in one hand and a water canteen in the other. Around the statue are 33 more cannon statues representing 33 different transformations of the cannon goddess. Opposite these statues are more statues depicting demonic creatures representing a moon in Chinese astrology.
Visitors can take the elevator to the top of the statue and then descend using the stairwell. On their way down, they pass through the emotions and desires represented by the 108 Buddhist statues. According to the belief, a visitor who wants to get rid of any negative emotion should find the appropriate statue, make a wish and leave a donation there.
9- Kelpies
Kelpies are known as shape-shifting and water-dwelling creatures mentioned in Scottish legends. These creatures often appear in waterways such as rivers and streams, appearing to humans in the form of horses or ponies. According to legends, Kelpies stick to the backs of people and especially children, permanently damaging their skin. They then continue to eat them, dragging their victims into the nearby waters.
In 2013, two 30-metre statues of horse heads were unveiled in Falkirk and Grangemouth, Scotland. These statues depict mythical creatures known as “Kelpies”. The statues are among the largest horse statues in the world and are also known as Scotland’s tallest statues.
10- Statue of Unity
The colossal Statue of Unity depicting the Indian statesman Vallabhbhai Patel is located in India. As India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel is highly respected for promoting India’s unity. The statue is recognized as the tallest statue worldwide and is located in the city of Gujarat. This building, which has an impressive view with its height of 182 meters, was opened to visitors in 2018 after a very long construction process.
The statue is resistant to strong winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour and earthquakes up to 6.5 on the Richter scale. It also has four elevators that can take visitors to the top in 30 seconds. The statue has a similar design to the Statue of Liberty and is about four times higher than the Lady Liberty statue.
