Russian history: Exhibition “The Battle of the Ice”, dedicated to the 770th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Peipus in Saint-Petersburg

5 April 2012
Source: The Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps

April 5, 2012 in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps runs an exhibition “The Battle of the Ice”, dedicated to the 770th anniversary of the battle on the Lake Peipus known as “The Battle of the Ice”.

A set of military gear and weaponry of ancient warrior and his horse found in 1959 by expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences led by Professor M.K. Karger during archaeological excavations of the city Izyaslavl – one of the major centers of Galicia-Volyn of Rus are presented at the exhibition for the first time.

The complex includes weapons such as spears-heads, plummet from the dagger, axes, knives and arrowheads. The armature is presented by two fragments of fire baked chain mail. There was preserved the whetstone for sharpening swords and knives and fire’s seat for the breeding. The horse equipment is presented by stirrups, fishing, horseshoe bracelet, chain and lock of the horse put.

The exhibition displays other weapons of the Russian warriors and urban militias.

Among the unique exhibits there is a copy embroidered with silk and gold copy of the fresco by Vasnetsov from the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev depicting St. prince Alexander Nevsky (artist Bratukhin, 1902), auto lithography “The Battle on the Ice”(artist V. A. Serov, 1940-s), commemorative medals, etc.

The exhibition features works of the chief artist of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps, Evgeny Yemelianov, known for his high quality and detailed reconstructions of historical and battle paintings and drawings. A portrait of the Holy and Blessed Prince Alexander Yaroslavovych Nevsky, Battle of the Ice scenes, portraits of cavalry and infantry of ancient warriors, and others are among them.

The exhibition is ended up with posters of the Great Patriotic War, dedicated to the victory of Alexander Yaroslavovych under German knights on the ice of Lake Peipus - “We beat. We eat. And we will beat”.  Also “Who comes to us with a sword, will perish from it!”

The exhibition will run till May 11, 2012.