Moscow Triumphal Arch

Moscow Triumphal Arch

In the middle of a busy street in western Moscow, there stands a triumphal arch that looks almost identical to the one in Paris—just slightly smaller. Surprisingly, both arches were built to commemorate the same war, making this perhaps a unique historical occurrence.

In 1812, Napoleon led 640,000 troops into Moscow and set the city on fire, believing he had emerged victorious. However, before his arrival, the residents and military of Moscow had carried out a scorched-earth strategy, causing Napoleon’s grand army to leave empty-handed. They also frequently ambushed his retreating forces along the way, and the harsh winter, lack of supplies, and freezing conditions took a heavy toll, inflicting severe casualties. The people of Moscow certainly considered themselves victorious too. This is how different parties often view history.

Moscow’s Triumphal Arch was built in 1829 and took five years to complete. It stands 28 meters tall. At the top is a statue of the Goddess of Victory, holding a laurel wreath and riding a six-horse chariot; the architrave is adorned with the emblems of 44 Russian cities that resisted Napoleon’s army, and the niches of the pillars feature six statues of soldiers holding spears and shields. The triumphal arch is majestic and commemorates a glorious chapter in history. Standing proudly in the middle of the road, it silently guards the gateway to Moscow and has witnessed over 170 years of historical change.