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Statue of Honor

The Statue of Honor, known in German as Denkmal der Ehre, stands in Atatürk Park in the İlkadım district of Samsun, a Turkish port city. It is dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s landing in Samsun on 19 May 1919, an event that marked the آغاز of the Turkish War of Independence. The monument features an equestrian statue of Atatürk designed by the Austrian architect Heinrich Krippel. It is a landmark of Samsun and appears on both the city coat of arms and the emblem of the sports club Samsunspor.

Statue of Honor, an equestrian sculpture of a man in military uniform holding a sword on a rearing horse.
The Statue of Honor shown as an equestrian monument with a uniformed rider holding a sword.
1973 © James Bedner · Public domain
The Statue of Honor illuminated at night, with wreaths and placards arranged around its pedestal.
The Statue of Honor lit at night, with wreaths and placards placed around the base.
February 2022 © · CC0
The Statue of Honor stands on a pedestal at night as red and white smoke rises around a crowd below.
The Statue of Honor illuminated at night amid red flares and smoke during a crowd gathering below.
April 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Silhouette of the Statue of Honor equestrian monument against a cloudy sky.
The Statue of Honor appears as a dark silhouette against the evening sky.
June 2010 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Three workers carrying a large bronze head sculpture of Atatürk in a courtyard.
Workers carrying the bronze head of a statue of Atatürk in a courtyard.
February 2012 © · No restrictions

Identification

TitleStatue of Honor
Alternative namesDenkmal der Ehre; Atatürk Monument
TypeEquestrian statue
Original titleOnur Anıtı

Historical context

Dedicated toMustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Samsun on 19 May 1919, the start of the Turkish War of Independence
Historical significanceA key event of the Turkish War of Independence; one of the 13th monuments to Atatürk; Heinrich Krippel's fourth work in Turkey

Creator

ArtistHeinrich Krippel
Artist nationalityAustrian
Commissioned byKâzım Pasha (Kazım İnanç), governor of Samsun Province
Commission year1927
Related competitionKrippel had previously won the jury competition for the Victory Monument in Ankara depicting Atatürk on horseback

Discovery and provenance

TransportShipped in 32 parts from Hamburg, Germany to Samsun, Turkey on the ship Nicea of the Deutsche Levante-Linie
Arrived in Samsun15 October 1931
Cast byVereinigte Metallwerke in Austria
Created between1928 and 1931
Created inVienna, Austria

Physical characteristics

Subject depictedMustafa Kemal Atatürk on horseback
Height of statue4.75 meters
Total height of monument8.85 meters

Materials

MaterialBronze

Location and ownership

Depicted onThe city coat of arms and the coat of arms of Samsunspor
Installation placeSamsun, Turkey
Landmark statusA notable landmark of Samsun
LocationAtatürk Park, İlkadım district, Samsun, Turkey

History and restoration

Installed on pedestal29 October 1931
Official unveiling date15 January 1932
Installed forRepublic Day
Artist feeUS$5,500
Total construction costUS$37,000

Other

District name meaningİlkadım means "the first step", referring to the same historical event