Card Odessa, 1981

A Soviet collectible postcard from 1981, depicting one of Odesa’s famous landmarks — the Laocoön sculpture group.

What is shown on the postcard

The photograph shows a marble copy of the famous ancient Greek sculpture “Laocoön and His Sons”. The sculptural composition is mounted on a stone pedestal with the inscription “LAOCOON”. Blooming red roses are visible in the foreground, with dense conifer trees in the background.

Historical note

This monument is a replica of the classical antique sculpture preserved in the Vatican. The marble copy was crafted in the 19th century by order of the prominent Odesa merchant and mayor Grigory Marazli for his villa on Frantsuzky Boulevard. Following the nationalization of property in the Soviet era, the monument was relocated several times before being placed in front of the Archaeological Museum.

Present day

Today, the Laocoön sculpture group remains in its location in front of the Archaeological Museum on Lanzheronivska Street, serving as a well-known cultural landmark of Odesa.

Location (map)

Address: 4 Lanzheronivska St, Odesa, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine

Coordinates: 46.484950, 30.742840
(Google Maps)

Coordinate source: Coordinates determined by the location of the Laocoön sculpture group in front of the Odesa Archaeological Museum..

Questions and answers

• Where is this sculpture located? The Laocoön sculpture group is located in front of the Odesa Archaeological Museum on Lanzheronivska Street.
• Who commissioned this replica? The marble copy was commissioned in the second half of the 19th century by Odesa’s mayor Grigory Marazli.
• What plants are visible in the foreground? The foreground of the postcard features blooming red rose bushes.

See also

• Odesa postcards
• 1981 postcards

The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Odesa from 1981.