Slavín (Prague)

Slavín is a tomb at the Vyšehrad Cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic. It was built in 1889–1893 as a resting place for important Czech personalities.

History

The first idea of establishing a national burial ground appeared in 1869 from politician František Ladislav Rieger and from Václav Svatopluk Štulc, who later became the provost of Vyšehrad. The specific idea of the establishment of the pantheon, a final resting place for outstanding Czech personalities, appeared in the 1880s and the initiator of the project was the Vyšehrad provost Mikuláš Karlach. Mayor of Smíchov, Petr Matěj Fischer, helped to finance the monument, when he donated 30,000 Austro-Hungarian guldens for the construction.[1][2]

The monumental tomb was designed by architect Antonín Wiehl, who already built neo-Renaissance arcades in the Vyšehrad Cemetery in 1887. Slavín was built on the eastern side of the Vyšehrad Cemetery in 1889–1893. Poet Julius Zeyer was the first person to be buried in the tomb, in 1901, eight years after its completion. The last person buried is actor Karel Höger, whose remains were transferred to the tomb in 2013. The remains of 56 people are interred in Slavín. The Svatobor association (originally an association to support Czech writers) has been taking care of the tomb.[1][3]

Decoration

The sculptural decorations were made by Josef Mauder in 1892–1903. Above the central monument of Slavín there is a sarcophagus, over which leans the allegorical winged figure of the Genius of the Fatherland. There are two statues on the sides of the monument, representing the Mourning Motherland (left side) and the Victorious Motherland (right side). On the front of the monument there are three plaques with the names of the first fifteen people buried in the tomb. On the sides of the monument there are other plaques with the names of the other buried; only the names of the last five buried, whose names did not fit, are missing.[3]

The poet Julius Zeyer, who was the first buried person in the tomb, is the author of the verses on the plinths of the side statues: "Svých synů prach vlast, truchlíc, zemi vrací, Jich skutky, jásajíc, po věky lidstvu hlásá." ("The fatherland, mourning, returns the dust of its sons to the earth, Their deeds, rejoicing, proclaims to humanity for ages.") Above the nameplates is written the motto of Slavín: "Ač zemřeli, ještě mluví." ("Although they are dead, they still speak.")[3]

Interments

People buried in the tomb include (in the order they were buried):[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hřbitov a pantheon slavných na Vyšehradě" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  2. ^ "Na Vyšehradském hřbitově v Praze odpočívá na 600 význačných osobností české kultury" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  3. ^ a b c d "Vyšehradský hřbitov a Slavín". Prague.eu (in Czech). Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  4. ^ "Ostatky herce Karla Högera byly uloženy na pražském Slavíně" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2025-09-02.

50°3′52.6″N 14°25′7.6″E / 50.064611°N 14.418778°E / 50.064611; 14.418778

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.