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To celebrate Russia’s great victory over Sweden at the Battle of Poltava in 1709, Peter ordered Peterhof, a summer palace complete with a vast cascade. |
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Ingenious engineering fed the allegorical fountains.
“Samson Slaying the Lion” symbolised Peter’s triumph over Charles the Twelfth of Sweden. |
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Rastrelli gave Peterhof its final form: the characteristic long, monolithic facade commanding a vista of fountains descending to the gulf of Finland—all suggesting imperial control of the sea. |
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