Prominent sculptor Rolf Schaffner's endeavour is part of an ambitious chain of accord and equilibrium symbols. Similar sculptures previously appeared in Cologne, Santany in Spain's Majorca island, Cork in Ireland, and Norway's Trondheim. The five geographically make a vast cross that stretches east-west across Europe.
The cross comes not as a Christian symbol but stands for the balance of peace and accord, which Europe has achieved through its trials and tribulations of many centuries, but which is so easy to upset, a Volgograd mayoral functionary said to Novosti.
Each of the five is an arrangement of roughly hewn granite blocks, six to seven metres high-a visual reminiscence of cromlechs, enigmatic structures which go down to times immemorial.
