History
The Statue of Honor is a bronze equestrian statue of Atatürk commissioned by the people of Samsun from Austrian sculptor Heinrich Krippel. Cast in Vienna between 1928 and 1931, it was unveiled in a ceremony on 15 January 1932. It was the thirteenth monument erected in the Republic era and Krippel's fourth major work in Turkey.
Design
The statue depicts Atatürk in military uniform, sword drawn, mounted on a rearing horse. Without its base the statue stands 4.75 meters tall; including the base, the total height reaches 8.85 meters. Bronze reliefs on the base show the people welcoming Atatürk with open arms and citizens carrying ammunition ashore by boat. The inscription on the base commemorates his landing in Samsun on 19 May 1919 to begin the National Struggle.
Location
The monument stands on Cumhuriyet Avenue inside Atatürk Park, adjacent to Cumhuriyet Square, within walking distance of the city center. It is one of Samsun's most recognized symbols and appears on several municipal emblems.
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