Sculptural complex Manas

source: liveinternet.ru

The complex was established in 1995 to mark what was said to be the 1000 years of the Manas Epic. It is a place of pilgrimage for many Kyrgyz and has come to embody the spirit of the nation just as the hero himself is thought to embody the soul of the Kyrgyz people. At the entrance to the complex is a massive six meter bronze statue of the hero with his foot on a dragon symbolizing his victories over the enemies of the Kyrgyz people. It stands on an equally grand pedestal, 18 meters high, and is surrounded by well tended rose gardens, fountains and fir trees. (It is actually a second statue to stand here; the larger original was so massive that it began to sink into the ground).

In the grounds of the complex is a museum dedicated to the story of the epic. Housed in a striking marble building, the museum is dedicated to the story of the epic. On the ground floor are exhibits depicting some of the famous manaschi, including black and white photographs who memorized the epic and kept it alive over the centuries by recitations. There are also exhibits about the archaeological exactions carried out in the area, including photographs of the mausoleum before its most recent renovations in the 1970’s. A grand staircase, lined with murals, takes the visitor to the second floor with displays of utensils, tools and other artifacts which date from medieval times.
Manas epic is an encyclopedic collection of folk myths, fairytales, legends, songs and poems which have been combined and grouped together around a central character – Manas, his son (Semetei) and grandson.