Скачать или смотреть Monument to the Unknown Hero - Mount Avala, Serbia

In October 1915 overpowered by Austro-Hungarian and German forces a Serbian battalion lost their fight for Mount Avala. Enemy soldiers then buried the Serbians who were killed in action in the valley below the mountain. On the grave of one of them they placed a simple wooden cross with the inscription "One unknown Serbian soldier".

In 1921 the initiative to build a more dignified commemorative monument gained momentum. And on 24 June 1921, it was decided that a future monument would be built. But first it needed to be determined if it was indeed a Serbian soldier in the grave under that simple wooden cross.

An exhumation was conducted by the authorities in November 1921. Items found in the grave included parts of a military shirt, Serbian bandolier, military boots with telephone wires instead of the shoe laces and a wallet with three Serbian coins. The soldier had no identity badge and the remains indicated a very young male, not older than 19–20 years. The authorities concluded that the remains do indeed belong to a Serbian soldier and a new monument would be built.

A temporary monument was built by local villagers close to the original site and was completed by 14 May 1922.

Then in 1934 King Alexander I ordered the construction of the new and final monument to commemorate the victims of the Balkan Wars and World War I. He was adamant that the monument has to be built on Avala, stating "either there or nowhere"

Designed by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. The foundation stone was laid by King Alexander on the 28 June 1934. It took 4 years to complete and has had Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance since 1987 and is protected by the Republic of Serbia.

Made from black granite the sarcophagus is surrounded by caryatids (female figures). The monument is 14.5 metres (48 ft) high, and 36 metres (118 ft) in length, while the stairs from the approaching side are 93 metres (305 ft) long. The Unknown Hero was then placed in his final resting place inside the crypt.

There is also a deeper symbolism of the monument. The 5 steps symbolise five centuries of Ottoman occupation of Serbia. The Caryatids are said to represent the mothers of the fallen soldiers, who are keeping the peace and sanctity of the burial place.