The statue itself is splendid, but its the pedestal on which it stands that interests me more.
It was unearthed in 1768, transported to its current place and turned into a pedestal for the statue.
It was the largest stone ever to be moved by humans.
The boulder is named Thunder Stone based on a legend that thunder split a piece off the stone.
When it was extracted from the ground, the boulder weighed more than 1,500 tons.
By the time it arrived at Saint Petersburg it weighed 1,250 tons.
The Transportation of the Thunder-stone in the Presence of Catherine II.
While the boulder was being transported, Catherine periodically visited the effort to oversee their progress.
The larger capstan was turned by 32 men, this just barely moving the rock.
Nevertheless, the workers made over 150 meters of progress a day while on level ground.
The vessel had to be supported on either side by two full-size warships.
Opening of the Bronze Horseman on Senate Square, St. Petersburg.
This pit still exist, as a filled pond, about half a hectare in size.
It is surrounded by a rampart of excavated earth rocks.
The Petrovsky pond, as it is called, is now a protected area.
Photo:Victor Gleim/Wikimedia Commons
