Monument to the Founders of Kyiv

Monument to the Founders of Kyiv

The Monument to the Founders of Kyiv was built in 1982 to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of the founding of Kyiv. It is located on the right bank of the Dnipro River, in a small square where the sculpture group complements the nearby “Mother Motherland” statue. Legend has it that in the early 5th century, three brothers—Kyi, Shchek, and Khoryv—and their beautiful sister Lybid founded a city on the right bank of the Dnipro River. The city was named after the eldest brother, Kyi, and thus came to be known as Kyiv, which is now the capital of Ukraine.

This monument was erected in honor of the founders of Kyiv, as a gesture of gratitude and reverence. The sculpture features four figures standing on a boat, giving the impression that they are sailing toward a bright and glorious future. The three brothers are depicted holding bows and spears, as if celebrating a victory, while the sister stands at the bow, gazing into the distance. The monument is carved from granite and is very sturdy. However, in February 2010, for reasons unknown, the sculptures of Shchek and Khoryv suddenly collapsed and were later reconstructed.