Smorgon. Monument to the Bear Academy.
Landmark
Belarus, Grodno region, Smorgon, Central Park.
0
35
15.02.2025
Description
A monument to the "bear academy", which existed here in the 17th and 18th centuries, was erected in Central Park a few years ago. The academy flourished under Prince Radziwill 'Pane Kohanku'.
The bears were trained as follows. The animal was placed in an iron-bottomed cage. A bonfire was lit under the cage and the bear was forced to stand on its hind legs, and at that time they began to play a tambourine. The bear started from one paw to stand on the other and it turned out to be a dance. Later, after some time, the bear was led around the cities and while playing the tambourine, he stood on his hind legs and danced.
Categories
Historical
Location
Latitude: 54.47984735
Longitude: 26.40487599
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Reviews to the Place
1Алег Дзьячкоу
15.02.2025
Smorgon. Monument to the Bear Academy.
There are several sculptures in the historical center of Smorgon near the ancient Church of St. Michael in the Central Park. A few years ago, a sculptural composition was installed, which is dedicated to the Smorgon Academy, where bears were trained.
During the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, magnates Prince Radziwill established a school in Smorgon, where they trained bears. This school existed throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
For the first time in historical sources, the bear training academy is found in the second half of the 17th century. The academy reached its heyday under the legendary Prince Stanislav Radziwill (1734-1790). They also called him by his nickname "Pane Kohanku."
The town of Smorgon was in his possession, and he appointed Jan Martsinkevich, the "baron" of Gypsies in Lithuania, as the head of this school. And the capital of the Gypsies in Belarus at that time was Mir town. Jan recruited a group of about 20 Gypsy "teachers" and they began intensive training. At the same time, 10 bears and several others were trained ... monkeys. After the death of Prince Pane Kohanku, the academy gradually declined.
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