Eagle and griffins return to Bucharest University Palace fronton after 82 years
A 1.6-ton bronze ensemble of an eagle and two griffins, destroyed in the 1944 bombings of Bucharest, was reinstalled on the University Palace fronton on 8 August 2026, marking the first step of a two-year restoration project.
Return after 82 years
On Saturday, 8 August 2026, a bronze eagle and two griffins were hoisted by crane back onto the fronton of the University Palace in Bucharest, ending an absence of 82 years. The sculptures, part of the monumental ensemble "Minerva ocrotind artele și științele" (Minerva protecting the arts and sciences), were destroyed in the 1944 bombings that struck Bucharest during the Second World War. The University of Bucharest announced the event on its Facebook page, calling it the first step in a two-year project to fully reconstruct the original fronton.
- Fronton finalized; sculptural ensemble begins under Karl Storck, conceived by architect Alexandru Orăscu
- University Palace inaugurated, the largest and most important building in Bucharest at the time
- Eagle and two griffins destroyed in bombings during the Second World War
- New bronze eagle and two griffins reinstalled on the fronton, first step of a two-year restoration
The new ensemble
The reinstalled ensemble weighs 1.6 tons in total. The eagle weighs approximately one ton, and each of the two griffins approximately 300 kilograms. The work, valued at approximately 2 million lei, was created by sculptor Alexandru Siminic together with his collaborators Teodor and Ștefan Siminic. It was produced using the traditional lost-wax bronze casting technique, chiseled and patinated, and is based on the original creation of sculptor Karl Storck. The sculptures were lifted into position with the help of a crane.
- Eagle
- 1000 kg
- Each griffin
- 300 kg
Historical background
The original fronton was conceived by architect Alexandru Orăscu and realized by sculptor Karl Storck between 1862 and 1869. The neoclassical fronton was inspired by the Glyptothek in Munich. The composition was conceived by Theodor Aman, and the bas-relief by Karl Storck and his collaborators depicted Minerva crowning the sciences and arts, alongside allegorical figures symbolizing academic disciplines and fine arts. Above the bas-relief sat the crowned eagle and the two griffins. The University Palace was inaugurated on 14 December 1869 and was at the time the largest and most important building in Bucharest, with the longest facade on Edgar Quinet Street.
Funding and restoration works
The restoration is part of a broader consolidation, restoration and modernization project for the University Palace, described as the largest educational building in Romania with over 45,000 square meters of surface area. The project is funded by the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration through the National Investment Company (CNI) under the National Programme for Public or Social Interest Construction. The works are executed by the association of Construcții Erbașu (leader), Terragaz Construct, Euras and Polarh Design. CNI stated that through this project it contributes to the conservation and enhancement of one of Romania's most representative heritage monuments, restoring the original architectural identity of a landmark building for the capital.
Officials react
Bucharest's general mayor, Ciprian Ciucu, attended the event and addressed the public.
I am grateful to the University of Bucharest for the contribution it constantly brings to the recovery of the memory of our city! I will keep the memory of this moment! The griffins, the eagle, which are mounted on the University building, will be here for generations, in the heart of Bucharest.
The University of Bucharest described the return of the eagle and griffins as not only the recovery of an essential component of the building's architectural identity but also a gesture of recovering historical and cultural memory. The full reconstruction of the fronton's sculptural ensemble is expected to continue over the next two years.
