Time capsule found inside the statue of Stephen the Great in Iași
A real time capsule was discovered in Iași. It contains a letter that is nearly 150 years old, hidden inside the statue of Stephen the Great and Saint. The artifact was found during restoration work on the monument and serves as a testament to those who constructed the statue.
The document was discovered when restoration experts inserted a video camera into the bronze ensemble to assess its condition. The images revealed a bottle inside.
Fine artist Tibor Kolozi described the moment of discovery: “I found a transparent wine bottle containing a scroll wrapped in a letter.”
The letter begins with a formal statement: “This monument was erected in October 1882 AD, during the reign of His Majesty Carol I, King of Romania, and Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth, in memory of the most glorious ruler of Moldavia, Stephen the Great.”
The document is signed by Alberta Seraia, who oversaw the reconstruction of the Administrative Palace in Iași 144 years ago.
According to experts, the letter's author indicates that another document is hidden inside the statue—another time capsule. However, the restorers do not plan to dismantle any parts of the sculpture to retrieve it.
The mayor of Iași, Mihai Chirica, stated that the discovered document will undergo restoration and will be exhibited to the public. “A document that discusses the moment when the statue of Stephen the Great and the Saint was installed in front of the Palace of Culture has been sent for restoration and conservation and will be featured in an exhibition,” the mayor said.
The monument of Stephen the Great and the Saint in Iași was created by the French sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet and was inaugurated on June 5, 1883. This bronze ensemble, composed of nearly 20 elements secured with screws, is undergoing its first major restoration, financed by Iași City Hall.
