The Ejmiatsin World War 2 Soviet Memorial

The former republics of the USSR are riddled with various memorials to those who died in the Second World War. Most of these memorials are specific to the regions in which people were actually lost. Sometimes, these memorials contain the names of those who died, other times the memorials are just a bit more grand and stand tall over the surrounding environment. I've seen this memorial a ton of times over the past year but I've never really stood up close to it and admired the imagery that it holds. With a recent visit to Ejmiatsin in Armena, and noticing many other nearby memorials I need to visit, I figured it was time to photograph it and really view it up close. 

I've tried to find some information online about the memorial. Though I couldn't find anything that would pinpoint a general date to which it was constructed, nor could I find any information on who designed the project. Usually these features contain some general information online, though the less popular destinations remain a bit more obscure. I'd have to assume that based on the nearby Khrushchevkas from the 1950s and 60s which aren't nearly in the same decent condition, that this would've sprung up some time around the 1970s - 1980s. These memorials, while being a bit newer compared to the much older towns and villages they reside in, tend to vary in condition as well. Some of which rather decayed, their eternal flames no longer eternal. 

This one remains within a central part of the small town of Ejmiatsin. It's a popular little park space in which the elderly play their board games and the children ride around on scooters and bikes or kick a ball around. A few fountains nearby which are turned off during the colder months but spring to life during the warmer ones. World War 2 memorials vary in their imagery. Some hold grand statues which overlook towns. Standing tall over all else around. Some display soldiers standing mighty and looking out into the abyss with great intent. Others, like this one, focus more on the tragedy and the spirituality of the nation. More a sad symbol of respect alongside innocence through the little details it holds. To one side is a monolithic structure that holds no embedded text or images. There were no signs it once held anything that could've been removed or destroyed.

And these memorials, even if the former republics did pursue de-communisation through removal of symbols and Lenin/Stalin images, are often the few remaining ones that don't change. Still holding the hammer and sickle. Still featuring their red stars. In this case, the eternal flame emitting from within the centre of a star on the ground. Its text etched into the wall featuring the years the Second World War took place within. While some deserve better care, it is nice to see that these memorials are never changing. As those they honour did live and die under a completely different ideology and time.

The images on this memorial, starting from left to right, display a deer alongside a group of women. Within their hands and surrounding them are the flowers. Usually the heads of flowers with their petals.  I assume this resembles the frequently seen symbol of eternity within Armenian history and culture. Where the petals seem endless. The concept of eternal life that coincides with the nearby eternal sun which dates as far back as the Roman Empire. One flower contains a stem and seems to be growing from the ground. Perhaps another metaphor on the beauty of life that continues to flourish as a result of their sacrifice.  Next to the women are men standing with their heads bowed, holding bayoneted weapons. It appears that the memorial tells the story from left to right of those paying respects to a fallen soldier.

It's quite an emotional monument. One that you have to step up quite close to to really see the details and take in the story it's portraying. And it makes you realise just how many lives were lost even in the most remote areas of the world during the conflict.

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