Famous statuary of central fountain in Peterhof waterworks ensemble, depicting Israelite hero Samson wrestling a lion has returned to its place after conservation and restoration.
      
      Samson and lion group was de-mounted in December, 2010 and transported to St. Petersburg for maintenance. The sculpture was gilded with leaf-gold: about 1 kilogram of gold was spent for it. It is also reported, that pedestal for Samson was repaired on museum's money while the sculpture maintenance and gilding was sponsored.
      
      Samson and lion group with fountain emitting 21-meters spout was first fixed in 1735 in honor of anniversary of the victory of Russians over the Swedes. It took place of St. Sampson day, so Heracles of initial project was replaced with Israel hero. The first project for the sculpture belongs to famous architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, built Winter Palace, Ekaterininsky Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, palaces for St. Petersburg aristocrates, Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg St. Andrew church in Kiev.
      
      Waterworks of Peterhof park will begin functioning on May, 1.
      
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Author: Yulia Buzykina