Monument to King Mindaugas, Vilnius

The Monument to King Mindaugas is a significant tribute to the only king of Lithuania, intended to symbolize his power and importance to Lithuanian history. Despite limited available biographical information about the king, the monument's design and inscriptions provide some insight into his reign.

Sculpted by Regimantas Midvikis, the statue of King Mindaugas is almost three-and-a-half meters tall, which represents the king's immense power. In the sculpture, King Mindaugas is depicted sitting on a throne, holding the royal regalia of a scepter and an orb, which signify his sovereignty.

The pedestal of the monument has inscriptions of both the Christian and pagan celebrations of the solar calendar, highlighting that King Mindaugas did not entirely abandon his pagan beliefs, despite his conversion to Christianity. This shows that he was willing to accept Christianity to achieve his ambition of becoming king.

The Monument to King Mindaugas is situated in front of the Lithuanian National Museum, where it was erected in 2003 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the king's coronation. It was unveiled on 6 July 2003, which is celebrated as Mindaugas' Coronation Day.

The Monument to King Mindaugas is a symbol of the power and significance of Lithuania's only king, and its design and inscriptions provide some insight into his reign and beliefs.