Back in 2003, I read a book by Steve Berry called The Amber Room. Steve Berry, like Dan Brown and many other similar writers, deftly combined true historical facts with fictional narratives. Until that point, I had never heard of the Amber Room and was completely enthralled.
I had to go on the internet and dig up more information about the famous Amber Room. I will share my findings here with you, dear reader! Let's start at the beginning and cover all bases.
What is amber?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, amber is defined as "a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin that takes a fine polish and is used chiefly in making ornamental objects (such as beads)."
What is the story of this Amber Room?
Financed by Prussian King, Frederick I, The Amber Room started construction in 1701 inside the Great Royal Palace in Berlin, Germany. It was finished in 1713. The people involved in making this room were the most talented amber masters from several countries.
Frederick I died and his successor, Frederick Wilhelm I, did not feel too crazy about the Amber Room. So, when Peter I, the Tsar of Russia, came to visit the Great Royal Palace for a diplomatic meeting, he saw and loved the beautiful amber room. Frederick Wilhelm I gifted it to the Tsar of Russia. After the room was neatly broken down for transport, it took until 1770 for the Russians to finally finish their version of the Amber Room.
Unfortunately, during World War II, the Amber Room vanished. To this day, nobody knows where it is. A new version of the Amber Room was finished recently. It started in 1979 and took 25 years to finish (2004) and is valued at $11 million.
Until next time on Small Samples of History,
Ryan
I had to go on the internet and dig up more information about the famous Amber Room. I will share my findings here with you, dear reader! Let's start at the beginning and cover all bases.
What is amber?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, amber is defined as "a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin that takes a fine polish and is used chiefly in making ornamental objects (such as beads)."
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| Raw Amber |
What is the story of this Amber Room?
Financed by Prussian King, Frederick I, The Amber Room started construction in 1701 inside the Great Royal Palace in Berlin, Germany. It was finished in 1713. The people involved in making this room were the most talented amber masters from several countries.
Frederick I died and his successor, Frederick Wilhelm I, did not feel too crazy about the Amber Room. So, when Peter I, the Tsar of Russia, came to visit the Great Royal Palace for a diplomatic meeting, he saw and loved the beautiful amber room. Frederick Wilhelm I gifted it to the Tsar of Russia. After the room was neatly broken down for transport, it took until 1770 for the Russians to finally finish their version of the Amber Room.
Unfortunately, during World War II, the Amber Room vanished. To this day, nobody knows where it is. A new version of the Amber Room was finished recently. It started in 1979 and took 25 years to finish (2004) and is valued at $11 million.
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| New Amber Room in Russia, valued at $11 million. |
Until next time on Small Samples of History,
Ryan
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