Belgrade winner in a way 99% of us didn't see: The camera was literally in front of the head of the monument at Kalemegdan (PHOTO)

Winner monument at Kalemegdan is one of the symbols of Belgrade. Proudly standing on the fortress resisting the elements. It is unthinkable to go around Belgrade, or if you are not from there and to walk the popular Kalemegdan, without the visit the Winner. Many photos from the capital were taken just next to it.

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I am sure you never had the opportunity to see him face to face like this. This 14 meter "giant" is impossible to perceive live, because, no matter how much you come close, go around or stand back, its impossible. So, here's the opportunity to meet it up close.

A sculpture of a naked man with a bird and a sword in bronze was done by sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. Set on a plateau in the Upper Town in honor of the tenth anniversary of the breakthrough of the Salonika front 7-8. October 1928. Now it is easily seen that the winner is a man in full force and stressed muscles. The sword in his right hand is facing down, as a symbol of a warrior who is always ready to defend the homeland and respond quickly to the attack. His brow was furrowed, because he is a man who keeps watch forever.

It has long been a controversy about what the winner is holding in his other hand.

Foto: helivideo.rs/Dragan Trifunović

The majority held that it was a pigeon, but it's bird of prey. This fact is confirmed by a letter of Ivana Mestrovic mentioning falcon, as a symbol of invincibility and unfettered freedom.

The winner is the archetypal hero, a warrior in the period of peace, bears marks of courage. Mestrovic's monument created in 1913 when when the idea appeared of uniting the Yugoslav peoples, so the monument is a symbol of Yugoslav heroism. In fact, the winner deviates from the display of victories that were common. Victory and its symbols since antiquity appear in female form, such as the French "Marianne" or German "Germany".

Foto: A.Nalbantjan

The Belgrade public at the time protested, they didn't want it to be part of the memorial fountain at Terazije. "A naked man! Oh, my dear", we can only imagine Belgrade ladies being scandalized by the idea of "it" being in the center of the city. Different societies of Belgrade gentlemen considered it inappropriate. An idea appeared in the papers to put the Winner in the pool, when "he is already naked", while others were to put it on the great pillar, much bigger than the one he is standing today.

- There, it would be high enough so people could not see that he is naked - comments from the press.

Its history, from creation through to final installation was tumultuous, and the sculpture has traveled Europe until he finally arrived at the place that we all know.

Foto: A. Nalbantjan

It was decided to call Terazije Market to the Throne Square, and in the middle of the square to place a large fountain in honor of the great victory. Mayor Ljuba Davidovic reported Mestrovic.

"Kraj Petar" school gym was used for its construction, because it had high enough ceiling for Mestrovic to make a 5 meter tall sculpture. The fountain itself was monumentally designed, with 8 meter diameter, with four lions and a pillar would be erected from it with the Winner.

The pillar was supposed to have five segments which represented five centuries of slavery. Plans of its construction were not preserved.

Foto: A.Nalbantjan

First World War started and Mestrovic, Austro-Hungarian citizen had to leave Serbia. The works were stopped, and it was believed for the long time that the sculpture was destroyed. However, it was entirely different. Before the start of the military conflicts, Mestrovic sent a model to Czech Republic for the casting and so it was preserved.

Belgrade municipality bought it and put it in a on Senjak, in a shed, where they kept many things they didn't know what to do with at the moment.

The winner was supposed to be named Herald of victory. 

(Telegraf.co.uk / source: helivideo.rs)