The article will be voluminous with a lot of photos. And very interesting.
After studying the columns of the Vyborg Bay, which I have devoted two articles (1 article - the main and the second article with additions), the question remained open about their possible belonging to the columns of the Mausoleum of Paul the First in the city of Pavlovsk, Leningrad Region. And a detailed analysis was needed. What, in fact, I have devoted my research day. However, since Pavlovsky Park itself is quite remarkable, I did not limit myself to one Mausoleum. Now everything is in order.
I'll start with the main thing. The columns of the Mausoleum of Paul I in no way correlate with the columns of the Vyborg Bay. Not according to the granite passport, nor in size. That is, the columns of the Vyborg Bay are unique in their way. In St. Petersburg and its environs there are no monuments, buildings and structures to which these columns would be identical.
And so, the Mausoleum of Paul I. It looks like this. I note right away that all photos are clickable. Click on the photo and it will open in full size.
It's in the front.
And this is behind.
Promotional video:
The height of the granite podium is 142 cm.
I measured it in advance, assuming a possible option that the columns go below the podium. However, no, the columns are on the podium. Their lower edge is clearly visible.
Now, with regards to the columns themselves. Firstly, I would like to note the fact that they give the impression of something very old. Yes, they are polished, but the cavities are very deep. Moreover, all are covered with cracks. The nature of the cracks indicates that the base under the columns is not stable. Cracks in all axes, both horizontal and vertical.
I have a firm conviction that these columns have been somewhere else for a very long time, perhaps they have also been lying for a long time somewhere in the Gulf of Finland or in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. And they were adapted to the Mausoleum of Paul I in fact. That is, by availability. There were four identical columns and they were used. And, perhaps, the Mausoleum itself is nothing more than something restored from ancient ruins. There is an indirect indication of this in the park itself; the Pavlovsk Palace (more about it below), and the park with its landscape and communications, and the contents of the park have all the signs of late restructuring.
If we grind and polish the columns of the Vyborg Bay, we will see something very similar.
The second thing that I would like to note is the granite passport. It is unique. Closest to the columns of the Kazan Cathedral. Something in between the columns of the Vyborg Bay and the Kazan Cathedral. The columns of the Mausoleum have a pronounced ovoid structure close to the correct geometric rounded shape. The amount of brine per unit area is very high. The brine is large. The average brine has a diameter of 3-7 cm, with a high percentage of brine up to 9 cm in size and even brine up to 12-13 cm in size.
And here is a completely unique case. Rapa 30 cm in size.
The third thing to note is the size of the columns. They are 660-662 cm high, the diameter at the bottom (at the base) is 115.5 cm, 115.0 cm, 113.5 cm and 113.0 cm. Let me remind you that the columns of the Vyborg Bay have the following dimensions:
- the column closest to the shore - length 928 cm, thickness at the ends 112 cm and 139 cm.
- the column farthest from the shore - length 923 cm, thickness at the ends 131 and 135 cm.
The height from the podium to the ceiling of the portico is 710 cm.
Column capitals are also granite.
The mausoleum has a basement ventilated floor. There are three ventilation holes on three sides, that is, there are nine in total. What is inside the plinth, I do not know. The mausoleum is closed to the public.
Limestone walls. Limestone does not make an impression of something ancient in appearance. It is very likely that he really has an official age for the Mausoleum. That is, it is two and a half centuries old (built in 1805-1810).
Okay, let's finish with the Mausoleum.
Now let's take a walk in the park. It will be very exciting.
Perhaps I'll start with the flora. There are many different botany in the park, and quite remarkable. In particular, I was very surprised by some tree species not typical for the local location. In particular, larch and cedar. In general, the park is well-groomed, there is an active rehabilitation of trees, along the periphery of the park there is dense undergrowth from which the park is very much like a wild forest. Titmouse birds, ducks, as well as squirrels are present. So I highly recommend to everyone who will be in St. Petersburg in the summer to visit this wonderful place. But only after the Catherine Park in Pushkin, that park is simply a must-see. Especially now, when there are no Chinese. I also want to warn you that the park in Pavlovsk is very large, if you want to go around all the nooks, then get ready to wind about 10 km, so take comfortable shoes. There are enough benches to sit and relax.
As I said, the trees are being actively rehabilitated in the park. That to me as a researcher is just a balm. I chose thick spruce and thick pine for analysis. I was interested in their age. Let's start with the pine tree. Right at the Mausoleum there is a heap of logs from a cut pine tree.
The barrel diameter was no less than 63 cm.
To make it easier to count the rings, he anointed the wood with earth.
The pine tree turned out to be 145 years old. It is noteworthy that over the past 40 years, the radius has increased by only 2 cm, that is, the diameter is only 4 cm. Very thin rings. We can say that the growth of the tree has almost stopped reaching a certain size. Moreover, for the first 100 years, and especially the first 30 years, the tree grew very quickly. This fact needs to be taken into the piggy bank.
The next tree stump was taken for analysis. I found a large stump, 120 cm in diameter.
The tree was only 64 years old. Please note that the distance between the rings is up to 1.5 cm. So I advise everyone who wants to plant a Christmas tree in their summer cottage to take into account what awaits you in the conditional 50 years. There will be a tree with a nine-story building and more than a meter in diameter.
There were no sawn oaks in the park. At least I haven't come across such stumps. In general, there are few oak trees. There was one old oak, the core was missing, sewn up with sheet iron. Surprisingly, the oak is alive, green. In general, the age of the park can be judged by the cut pine and the nature of the available flora. He is hardly more than a century and a half. That is, when the Palace and the Mausoleum were being built, this area was bare. Or almost naked.
The park has a number of streams, ditches and dams. On the shores grow leaves of an amazing size of an incomprehensible breed. I even asked a pretty girl passing by to capture me for the story. Not every day you come across such a "lump", especially in St. Petersburg.
Not far from the Mausoleum, I saw the remnants of the gate. I was attracted by pagan symbolism.
In general, it should be noted here that in St. Petersburg and its environs there is entirely one paganism. Wherever you go. Now I take it as the norm, but a few years ago, when I just plunged into history a little deeper than the textbooks prescribe, for me it was a big surprise and did not lend itself to any explanation. Until I learned the essence of religion. Now everything is clear and understandable to me. As for St. Petersburg, for example, there is not a single church with the so-called Orthodox crosses.
built before 1905.
Let's go back to the gate.
I wondered what kind of metal they were. Suddenly bronze. No, it turned out to be cast iron.
There are granite blocks under the gate posts. "Bolts" are embedded in the blocks. Most likely filled with lead. The racks are bolted to these blocks with nuts.
Further, walking through the park towards the Palace, I noticed a statue. For several years now, these kinds of statues have aroused great interest in me. A careful study of the statues usually gives a lot of positive mood, not to mention new useful information. And the expectations did not let me down.
First, the pose of the statue clung to me. It’s not every day that you see a woman so open. Either the back is itching terribly, or a bag with a load behind the back …
I think we should read the sign who she is. It turned out to be Niobis.
The back of the statue is engraved with the date. The truth is somehow clumsy.
Not finding an answer from what the woman was so rattled, he moved on and saw another statue. She's also a woman, and she's got a little hot too. And again behind the back is either a bag, or a flock of fleas. I go over and read. Also Niobide. Oh how.
I looked around, where there are still statues, I noticed. I go to her. I go up and … I go nuts. Also Niobide.
The truth this time without fleas and raskoryachek.
Here I already had a sports interest. I think since this is the case, so as not to offend anyone, I will bypass all the Niobids. No matter what. I looked around and saw an area with a bunch of figurines in the foreseeable azimuth. And he moved there.
As it turned out, both girls and boys were present. Naturally bronze. I started watching everyone. The first was a boy.
A very strange boy. First of all, the objects that he has in his hands. We read the plate.
It turns out it's Mercury. And in his hands is a caduceus wand and a bag of money. And now, for example, a photo of what this caduceus looks like in reality.
Doesn't it look like it? And the money bag is too small. And now if we measure what the boy has in his hands, then we will perfectly see that the "stick" will perfectly fit the bag. Do you know what this is? Do not be surprised. It's a cell phone. Antique mobile phone. Apparently they were then in the form of cylinders. And they were worn in bags. Moreover, these mobile phones were of different models, that is, sizes and shapes. Everything is as it is now. After I told you this, look again at the photo of the boy statue. And don't tell me that he doesn't read SMS.
Still don't believe in a cell phone? Here's another boy for you. He also reads sms-ku. Or writes. True, the cell phone has already been pulled out of his hands. Apparently it was very similar to the modern one. This is really not Pavlovsky Park, but Ekaterininsky in Pushkin.
There is also another boy, who also read SMS-kami. I got tired and put my hand on my leg. Apparently a list of products you need to buy.
Let's go back to Pavlovsky Park. Look again at the statue of the second Niobide. She clearly read something in the cell phone, which was in her left hand.
We look at the next statue. And don't tell me she didn't have a cell phone in her hand either.
Think Niobides? Didn't guess. This is Flora. If a woman with a wreath on her head, then Flora.
Next statue.
Also with a wreath on his head. Think Flora? Didn't guess. This is Polyhymnia. What do you think, if these two statues have different plaques, there will be a difference? I only see one difference. One with a mobile phone, the other without.
We look further. Also with a mobile phone. But without a wreath on his head. Maybe Niobide?
No, it's Calliope.
How to tell? It turns out this thick bent thing is a wax tablet. And in her other hand she holds a writing stick. Now let's look at the hand of the statue and imagine the diameter of the writing stick. Have you presented? That's right, the handle from the shovel. But for me everything is so simple. She also had a mobile phone in her hand. And she reads an SMS.
We look further.
It's just Niobis to me. She does not differ from the first three Niobids except for beautiful sandals (specially photographed from this angle). At the same time, someone scrawled on the statue that it was some kind of Cleo, and the plate assures us that this is Euterpe.
Further.
A niobide with a tambourine is called Thalia.
Note that there is some kind of mask next to it. The sign assures that this is a comic mask. Although personally I do not find anything comical in it.
And here's another statue with a mask. Ostensibly tragic. What is tragic about it, I also do not understand.
For me, all these versions with masks and their interpretations are nothing more than a free fantasy. Actually, like all versions with the names of the statues. So who's there with the tragic mask? It turns out Melpomene.
And so that no one doubts, the name is scribbled in a nail. Written on the fence, it means …
A woman with a mobile phone and a baby ball is Urania. And it doesn't matter that the mobile phone is a little like a heavenly compass.
And this is supposedly the correct Clio. With rolled up parchment. Oh well. With such sandals and clothes, but with parchment. Well, at least not with birch bark. Although there was one here with a wax tablet. Okay. That she should have in her right hand, I think you already understood without me.
Well, for a snack, a little eroticism.
Remember, if Niobida has unbuttoned on her hoodie and her charms are bare, she automatically becomes Venus.
And by no means Apollo! Look not to be confused! Apollo boy!
True, his button did not unfasten. He's just an exhibitionist. But the sandals are expensive and with Velcro.
And the same mobile phone is still in hand.
It is worth noting the fact that the granite of the pedestals is different from the columns of the Mausoleum. This is a gray rapakivi. Columns of the Mausoleum made of pink rapakivi.
There are many empty pedestals in the park. They have various nonsense installed on them.
There are also marble sculptures.
Until I have gone far from bronze niobids of various formats, I will show the monument to Empress Maria Feodorovna.
Let me remind you that all photos are clickable. If you click on the photo, you can see the difference in the technical execution of the monuments of the late 18th and early 20th centuries. For me, the difference is enormous. Roughly the same as between a horse with a rider and a snake on the Bronze Horseman. The snake was obviously made by an "apprentice".
On the back of the statue there is a record of who and when.
The monument to the Empress itself is dilapidated.
Columns with reinforcement, relief - plaster.
Now let's go back to the statues again. Marble. The centaurs amused me. Dad and son.
And this guy was given a name only tentative.
Now Paul's Palace.
One paganism. And classical antiquity.
A very peculiar granite balcony. I wonder if someone could order one now, and if so, how much it costs.
The palace has clear signs of reconstruction. The side wings are the limits. Please note that the extension went directly over the windows.
The main building gives the impression of something old, possibly ancient. Or recreated on the remnants of something ancient. As befits this kind of building, it has recessed floors of the so-called basement.
The steps of the main entrance show signs of alteration and restoration. Different types of granite.
The top element (visor) looks very eroded, very old.
Light granite is not just a different breed, but also fresh.
It is very remarkable how the restoration took place in this place. We were not too lazy to cut off the new granite element along the fault line of the old block.
From this angle you can see better, the granite is different.
And this is how modern restorers restore the lost elements. Take a pigment-dyed cement compound mixed with granite chips. Then grinding with a grinder. By the way, all St. Petersburg monuments have this restoration algorithm. For example, the columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral were restored and are being restored using this technology.
The wing colonnade looks like this.
Upstairs are classic pagan urns. I am inclined to the version that once they were with the ashes of the dead. As now the Kremlin wall in Moscow, except that the trash cans are not on the top, but walled in.
Here you can clearly see how limestone and marble are preserved under the same conditions.
At the same time, on a cut with a grinder, you can see that the marble inside is quite good, you can also polish it if you wish.
The state of preservation of the marble lions is also quite good. The truth is not clear how much they cost here.
The palace is located on a hill, under the hill is a stream. The height of the hill feels about 30 meters.
Walking around the palace from behind, you can see an abandoned marble column. The bush on the right is visible.
I was not lazy, went over and measured it. I even had to dig a little. Length 2.55 meters, diameter 55 cm.
Apparently there was a lot of this stuff once. And marble, and granite and God knows what else.
Then I walked past such a lovely bridge.
I saw just such an imitation of antiquity in the format "I blinded him from what was." This is limestone, very eroded.
Modern brickwork inside.
On the sides there are traces of wooden formwork on cement mortar.
And this is another bridge. Elbows made of modern reinforced concrete (the reinforcement can be seen at the end below).
At the same time, the bridge bulls are granite and may well be an ancient heritage.
As I already wrote, the park is looked after.
There are signs of land reclamation, canal and collector drainage.
A little more antiquity. Temple of Friendship.
Another pagan tomb. This time, to the sisters of Empress Maria Feodorovna. So it is written on the walls of the tomb. It is officially referred to as a "monument to gracious parents" after the Empress's parents also died.
And further.
I will end on this. I will not draw conclusions in the conclusion, they were in the course of the article.
