MONUMENTS
ESTONIA-ARMENIA FRIENDSHIP MONUMENT
1964
State index: 1.12.15.3
Sculptor: Ara Harutyunyan
Architect: Rafael Israelyan
4th Kanaker 2nd Street, on the
highest point of the house-museum of Khachatur Abovyan, the distinguished
Armenian enlightener, writer, and founder of modern Armenian literature and
pedagogy. From this vantage point, there is a panoramic view of Mount Ararat.
The monument was inaugurated on
September 20, 1964, during events dedicated to Estonian literature and art in
Armenia. It features two tall tuff obelisks, positioned about 3.5 meters apart.
The left obelisk depicts an Estonian woman against a background representing
the Baltic Sea, with a swallow soaring above her head, symbolizing Armenia. The
right obelisk features an Armenian woman holding a bowl and a bunch of grapes.
The lateral surfaces of the
obelisks are adorned with national ornaments: Estonian patterns on the left and
Armenian designs, including bunches of grapes and pomegranates, on the right.
The image of a seagull from the Baltic Sea also decorates the sculptures. The
national characteristics of both peoples are vividly represented in the
sculptures.
Engraved on the upper parts of
both obelisks in Estonian and Armenian are the words: “MAY THE FRIENDSHIP
BETWEEN ESTONIA AND THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE LAST FOREVER, LIKE THIS FOUNTAIN AND
MOUNT ARARAT, INITIATED BY THE IMMORTAL ABOVYAN.”
