Monument to mark millennium of Lithuania name mention

The first written occurrence of Lithuania’s name has been traced to the Quedlinburg Annals and dated to 9 March 1009. In Annals of Germany city Quedlinburg of 1009 there is told that missionary archbishop Bruno was killed by pagans in Lithuania – this is the first mention of Lithuania in the world history. In 2009 Lithuania celebrated millennium of its name‘s mentioning. Klaipėda preapared to jubilee of commemoration of state name as well. In the square in front of ship „Meridianas“ there is built a seven-meter-high granite column with a ball; on the top of the ball – a bronze horse with rider. The column and the ball are brought from China. Author of monument – sculptor Regimantas Midvikis, architect – Vytenis Mazurkevičius. The monument symbolizes esteem to those, who created Lithuanian state, defended it from enemies, upheld the language and culture of ancestors. The names of people who mostly contributed to the construction of the monument are engraved on the monument pedestal, the capsule with a letter for future generations is bricked into the pedestal. In the letter – the words of poet Justinas Marcinkevičius: “The nation remains when survivors remain. I sing Lithuania as joy, grown up from the ashes“.