MONUMENTS

1967

State index: 1.12.10.3

Architect: Rafael Israelyan,

Sculptor: Ara Harutyunyan

It is located at 2 Azatutyun Avenue, in the Victory (Haghtanak) Park Memorial Complex. It was built on the edge of the Kanaker Upland, through the axis of Mashtots Avenue.

In 1950-1962, a bronze statue of “Father of Nations” Iosif (Joseph) Stalin (height: 17 m, sculptor: Sergey Merkurov) was installed on a high sculptured pedestal (architect: Rafael Israelian) in the Memorial Complex: authors were awarded the All-Union Stalinist State Prize in 1951. In 1962 the statue was dismantled, and a few years later, in 1967, a 22 m high copper “Mother Armenia” statue of sculptor Ara Harutyunyan was installed on the same pedestal.

The model of the sculpture was Evgenia Muradyan. The statue of a full-length woman with a sheathed sword in her hands and a shield at her feet symbolizes the power and majesty of the motherland, the unbreakable will and collective character of the Armenian woman. The dimensions and shapes of the pedestal have determined the monumental dimensions, cube-shaped volumes, and graphic art concrete outlines of “Mother Armenia.”

The pedestal is built of smooth black tuff, with an entrance on the main façade and additional entrances on the sides. The arch of the entrance is decorated with unique 19 carvings of roses. It has 3 floors in internal part, where in 1970 the museum of “Armenia in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” was opened. In 1995 it was renamed as “Mother Armenia” military museum of the RA Ministry of Defense.

The materials exhibited on the first and second floors are related with the Great Patriotic War and the various stages of the Artsakh Liberation War. Demonstrations dedicated to Operation Nemesis and volunteer movements were also organized. The third floor is envisaged for events.

The forms of Armenian national architecture (crossing stones arches, etc.) were used in the internal and external dimension-spatial composition and details of the pedestal. Located at one of the highest points of the city, the “Mother Armenia” monument dominates the city and is visible from different parts.

“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality