Independence Monument (Ashgabat)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
View of the Independence Monument, water features and Turkmen flags in the foreground

The Independence Monument in Ashgabat is a monument in the Independence Park in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat , which is dedicated to the independence of the Central Asian state. It was built and completed in 2000 during the tenure of Saparmyrat Nyýazow by the Turkish construction company Polimeks .

location

The independence monument is located in the extensive Independence Park in the south of Ashgabat. The park was created during the presidency of the first president of independent Turkmenistan, Saparmyrat Nyýazow , and is still one of the most well-kept and liveliest parks in the city. In addition to the Independence Monument , there is also the Ruhnama Monument , numerous fountains and water features , and a golden statue of Nyýazows in the park.

description

The Independence Monument stands slightly elevated at the end of a wide avenue, which is lined with statues of Turkmen warriors and famous figures of Turkmen history. The monument is surrounded by water features with numerous fountains and is reached via a wide marble staircase. The building can be entered from four sides, each entrance is provided with two further statues of famous Turkmen people. There are always Turkmen soldiers in marble sentry boxes with golden appliqués, who monitor what is going on around the monument.

Statues of famous people from Turkmen history

The lower part of the monument consists of a dome-shaped substructure, which is supposed to remind of the traditional yurt of the Central Asian nomads . The upper and larger part of the monument is formed by a 91 m high column made of reinforced concrete , which is decorated with golden elements, including five golden eagles. The top of the building is a 27 m high structure made of gold-plated steel, which is closed by a crescent moon with five stars. This symbolism can also be found in the flag of Turkmenistan .

Inside the monument there is an opulently designed museum, which deals with the independence and the uniqueness of the state of Turkmenistan. There is also a conference and event hall, as well as a viewing platform with a gastronomic offer for visitors. The large-scale use of marble and gold as stylistic devices continues in the interior of the monument.

meaning

The monument has a high symbolic power and is intended in particular to emphasize the cohesion of the Turkmen. The five eagles indicate the unity of the five tribes of Turkmenistan, while the substructure in the form of a yurt is intended to remind of the past of Turkmenistan and the way of life of the ancestors. The column in the upper part of the building is said to have been inspired by the ruins and structures in the Turkmen town of Daşoguz welaýaty , in particular the Kutlug-Timur minaret . The numerous statues of famous Turkmen and the permanent exhibition in the small museum are intended to contribute to the creation of a Turkmen identity, the contents of which are partially depicted for propaganda purposes.

10,000 manat bill

The date of Turkmen independence, October 27, 1991, is also architecturally taken up in the building: The construction at the top of the building is 27 meters high, the viewing platform is 10 meters in diameter and the column is 91 meters high.

The independence monument is also adorned with a note of the Turkmen currency Turkmenistan manat .

Individual evidence

  1. Independence Monument, Ashkabad | 239929 | EMPORIS. Retrieved March 7, 2020 .
  2. Independence Monument . Retrieved March 7, 2020 (de-US).
  3. ^ National Independence Park, Ashgabat. Retrieved March 7, 2020 .
  4. ^ Independence Monument of Turkmenistan. Accessed March 7, 2020 (English).
  5. ^ Trescher Verlag GmbH: Travel Guide to Turkmenistan Sunken Desert Cities on the Silk Road . 3rd, updated Edition. Berlin, ISBN 978-3-89794-415-2 .
  6. ^ Polimeks - Independence Monument. Accessed March 7, 2020 (English).


Coordinates: 37 ° 52 ′ 55.2 ″  N , 58 ° 22 ′ 55.2 ″  E