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Expert Commission Recommends Removing Statue of Prince Svatopluk
Monday 06 September 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, September 6 (TASR) - The much-discussed statue of the 9th-century ruler of Great Moravia Prince Svatopluk on the courtyard of Bratislava Castle should be removed from its current location, according to the conclusions of an expert commission that has assessed the statue from the historical and artistic point of view and presented its findings at a press conference on Monday.
The commission, chaired by archaeologist Marina Zavacka, recommended to Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik, who summoned it, that he should find another place for the statue in the area of the castle. The commission stated two conditions for this, however. The disputed symbol on Svatopluk's shield, which resembles the symbol of the fascist wartime Hlinka Guard, must be removed, along with the misleading inscription on the pedestal [Svatopluk is described as a Slovak ruler, when in fact a separate Slovak identity didn't emerge until around two centuries after his death. - ed. note].
If Jan Kulich, the creator of the statue, doesn't agree with this, the commission suggests transferring the statue under the remit of the Slovak National Museum as an example of political manoeuvring and mythologisation. The statue should be replaced with another statue of Prince Svatopluk, created following a public tender.
The final option is to return the statue to Kulich and install a new one after a tender. "None of these measures will ease tension in public disputes, but let them become what they should be - scientific and correct statements about this outstanding personality in Slovak history," said Zavacka.
According to the archaeologist, so many mistakes were made on the statue that it can be shown that it isn't actually one of Svatopluk at all, with only public agreement able to call it so. "It includes historical objects that only appear in clothing and accoutrements found several centuries later in history," she stated as an example.
"The commission is very well aware of the historical importance of Svatopluk as a historical figures," she pointed out, but added that such figures can't be usurped for party-political goals shortly before elections. [Smer-SD installed the statue a few days before the general election in June with the ceremony broadcast live on public-service Slovak Television (STV) - ed. note].
Sulik said that these are only the commission's recommendations and that he hasn't made the final decision on the statue's future as yet. "We want a public discussion. I don't want to take the decision too quickly without consultations. I hope that a meeting with Mr. Kulich and my decision will follow soon," he added.
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