Hello, friends. Continuing the topic of the article about the two Palmyras, it would probably be logical to write about another similar structure. We are talking about the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. As you know, the building of the Kazan Cathedral was built in the style of Russian classicism, but there is one thing that sets it apart from the general number of similar building structures - the presence of a semicircular system of columns on the northeast side. The official historical information about the origin of the Kazan Cathedral is here. According to her, the cathedral was designed by the Russian architect Andrey Nikiforovich Voronikhin. A Google search for other creations of this architect gave only the fact that from a serious one he created only the building of the Mountain Cadet Corps. Before that, he specialized mainly in painting and interior decoration. I do not want to slander this historical character, but immediately there is a slight discrepancy.
Repeatedly in different sources it was written that houses on this side of the Neva previously stood without facades. There are numerous materials in which these houses are indicated as partially destroyed by the Neva. Indeed, judging by the map, all the houses in the row have a clear rectangular spatial structure, and only the facades break the whole picture and run parallel to the embankment. The conclusion immediately suggests itself that the architect made only the facade. The rest was built before him. Well, maybe the interior has also worked, which he specialized in earlier. But how could he create the whole Kazan Cathedral?
Well, as always, let's start with a comparative analysis of the map.
Everything turns out to be very strange. The axes of the object do not coincide either with the present cardinal points, or with the axes of objects on the Palace Square. How so? Religious buildings were built with a clear orientation of the altar to the east. All objects of a cult orientation have strictly obeyed this rule since the 18th century. What's the catch? The same urban planning plan of St. Petersburg from J. B. Leblond will help us to answer this question. More precisely, that part of it that displays the location of the stars-fortresses on it.
We do not pay attention to buildings and other architectural manifestations on this document, we consider them only the intention of the author. Well, and probably for understanding, we cannot do without a GIF-maker here, otherwise we may not catch the clarity. Let's combine the Leblon town plan with a modern satellite image and select our object.
Promotional video:
Oops … a lot of details start to show And the main thing is that the Kazan Cathedral falls on one of the corners of a large star-fortress, and by the system of columns it is clearly oriented towards the canal running along its border. What for?
Apparently, Mr. Leblond had drawn up this plan on the backing of an older document, which indicated with reasonable accuracy the location of the fortified stars in that place. If he drew some part of the buildings from himself as his own creative idea, then he could not invent fortress stars. These structures were built before him. And immediately another question arises, namely about the Neva River. It can be seen that she made her way chaotically, forming a delta in place of the main star-fortress. But why did it happen that she came exactly to the historical center of St. Petersburg, and not a kilometer further south or north? Obviously, the Neva chose the lowest place, and passed along the border of the earth mass that was shifted from the north. Ironically, this mass bypassed the star-fortress and covered it to a lesser extent. As known,all the stars-fortresses were always located near water bodies. And if there was an ancient metropolis in this star (all signs point to this), then surely it was built at the crossroads of ancient paths. Land roads, as you know, were difficult in those days, and the main logistic directions were waterways. Everything seems to be clear with the western direction, but is that really all? We look at the map.
Oops … What kind of artifact is located at the bottom of Lake Ladoga? Obviously not the Bimini Road, and at least 20 km long. If this is an underwater river, then it is very straight and equal in width throughout the entire section. Let's check on Yandex to see if it's a common typo or retouching.
Absolutely not, this is really a straight dug section of the bottom, and even the barges from above have been photographed. Apparently, there is just the fairway of the navigable section. And its width is commensurate with the modern Neva. This area was clearly not deepened with a dredger, otherwise there would be islands around. Let's take a look at another map, and everything will immediately become clear:
This is nothing more than a canal that in prehistoric times connected the White Sea with the Baltic. Comrade Stalin only revived him, clearing those areas that were covered with earth and rock. And naturally, no one touched the naturally flooded sections of this ancient canal, there was no need for this. And we have the fact that a wide waterway approached ancient St. Petersburg from the east. This was the way from Tartaria, Bjarmia and other countries located on those lands. Maybe this is the very path from the Varangians to the Greeks, it is already known for certain that the Dnieper rapids are fragments from ancient sluices, and an exit to the Dnieper was possible. You can now talk a lot about the Mariinsky water system and other routes, but this is a topic for a separate story. The fact of the existence of a waterway from the east is obvious. And by the way,if we draw a straight line from that underwater section to the Vsevolozhsk region of the Leningrad Region, then we get to the SNT with the telling name Danube. From what ceiling was it called that if there is not a single serious body of water? The name was given according to historical data not in the 20th century, but earlier, as the village of the same name was called and later the railway station. All the names Don, Dnieper, Dniester, Danube came from one root, which meant a flowing reservoir in the Old Slavic (let philologists correct me). I heard a version that the Neva was previously called Kuban, well, that means another version appears, and not even about the Neva.this was the name of the village of the same name and later the railway station. All the names Don, Dnieper, Dniester, Danube came from one root, which meant a flowing reservoir in the Old Slavic (let philologists correct me). I heard a version that the Neva was previously called Kuban, well, that means another version appears, and not even about the Neva.this was the name of the village of the same name and later the railway station. All the names Don, Dnieper, Dniester, Danube came from one root, which meant a flowing reservoir in the Old Slavic (let philologists correct me). I heard a version that the Neva was previously called Kuban, well, that means another version appears, and not even about the Neva.
Well, in the end, it turns out that the Neva, bypassing the border of the piled earth mass from the south, in some place entered the same old canal, and along it entered the star-fortress, simultaneously washing away part of the internal structures and external borders. This process went like an avalanche. In some places the canal was washed out, in some it was littered with the remains of structures and earth, and the Neva washed new ways. All this is very clearly visible on the plan of Mr. Leblond. Perhaps it should be added that the fences of the large star-fortress were made of granite. It was washed out and scattered in a chaotic manner, and apparently later it was dug up and installed on new channels of the Neva, Fontanka, Moika and other channels. It was unrealistic to carry from other places and trim granite blocks in such quantities. Probably, you should not believe the historical sources, where all this is described. Comparing the technical capabilities of that time, and the frequent regular hostilities in the country, we can safely say that this is simply not physically possible.
But let's get back to the Kazan Cathedral.
So, friends, we are beginning to understand that the Kazan Cathedral was not originally an adornment of Nevsky Prospekt, as it is now. It was the eastern gateway to St. Petersburg (or whatever it was called then). And by analogy with the Palace Square and the Headquarters building on it, with his semicircular system of columns, he directed the signal in the direction from which the ships arrived from the east. And of course, in order to reflect the signal in the right direction, you need a source of such a signal. This means that in the focus of the column system there should be another lonely standing column with an irradiator. How to find it now? It's simple, let's turn to old pictures. Unfortunately there are no photos. So:
Here is the column-pillar itself. Judging by the eye-size scale, he was almost near the roadway. The pillar looks more like an obelisk, but at its top you can see a gilded dome and a cross on it. It is no longer possible to disassemble this structure in detail. Or another picture:
Judging by the fact that the authors of the paintings are different, the obelisk column in the center clearly took place. What was its height? Now it cannot be determined with sufficient accuracy, but from an eye perspective it was just under the height of the colonnades. The building opposite the cathedral from the side of the Griboyedov Canal has been demolished at this time and the building of the Singer company stands on it, but the building next to it has clearly been reconstructed and two more floors have been built on it.
And here is another engraving:
Strange, isn't it? The portico on the left is unfinished; the roofing felts have not yet been restored after the destruction. Written by Morne, engraving from 1830s. Judging by the fact that the author thoroughly drew small details, it is unreasonable to talk about simplifying the drawing. This means that the engraving was made earlier than it is officially dated, or Mr. Voronikhin still did not build this cathedral, but still restored and nothing more. Perhaps he even rebuilt the eastern facade under the altar wall, as it should be according to the canon. There are suspicions that at this place there was the same portal entrance, but it was destroyed by streams of water, like the edge of the colonnade on the other side. Also pay attention to the pedestal of the column-pillar. This engraving does not show its steps, which are quite clearly visible on other engravings. And in general, one gets the impression that the cathedral stands on a slight slope,rising from south to north. What is it? An artist's fantasy? Most likely not, this is really a sediment of the earth, which has not yet been removed at the time of drawing. Based on the available materials, it is very difficult to understand which part of the building and colonnades is underground. There are vague doubts that at least one and a half meters is simply entered. And at the entrances of the colonnades there should also be stairs, as well as at the main entrance. Another small detail - pay attention to the size of the doorways to the building.like the main entrance. Another small detail - pay attention to the size of the doorways to the building.like the main entrance. Another small detail - pay attention to the size of the doorways to the building.
They are very high in height, clearly exceeding two times the height of modern humans. Why did you need to make such an opening in an area with a rather difficult climate? The answer suggests itself that at the time of construction, the climate was completely different and the people who visited the building were clearly tall. At this time, there are a lot of materials about the giant people inhabiting our land. Obviously, here is the very case, the building was built just for such people and the builders of the 19th century have absolutely nothing to do with it. These builders actually spent more than 10 years restoring this building and adapting it to the religious canons that were relevant at that time.
How did this structure use atmospheric electricity? Yes, in fact, like others, maybe with a slight constructive difference. Let's try to restore the picture. The dome of the building was obviously gilded earlier. Pay attention to the last engraving, it is clearly the same color with the image of the rays above the entrance. And initially the dome was exactly gilded. The design of the dome itself and the light drum below it was similar as described here. But the metal connections in the building itself looked a little different.
It is quite clear that if the metal connections went as shown in the figure, then the column system simply brought the electrical potential of the room inside itself. The room was extended for the length of these colonnades. Anyone entering the colonnades thus fell into the zone of action of the electric field that was inside the building. What was it for? Apparently, the entrance from the ships was carried out here, and the signals to the ships were given by the same pillar, reflecting the signal from the semicircular colonnades. The entrances to the colonnade were a kind of checkpoint, and by acting on those entering, the electric field formed a certain inner mood in them. Further out of the building there was already a passage to the star-fortress itself. And apparently, without the influence of this field, the entrance inside was contraindicated.
Well, the Kazan Cathedral looked something like this.
Perhaps, channels were laid to the portals of the colonnades in such a way that it was possible to get off the boat to these portals. And there is a suspicion that these portals also had domes, slightly smaller than the main one. According to the laws of physics, they had to stand there. But these questions can be answered only after detailed research.