Town On The Dinester

Bender fortress and relict woods, acacia trees in blossom and quiet dusty streets. This is the town of Bender on the right bank of the Dniester River. A town with a notable destiny and a rich history.

In contrast to big and busy cities that attract many, Bender is a provincial town, whose advantage over others is a quiet life. In spite of its quietness, modern Bender is an industrial center where in the years of the Soviet power there were plants of all-Union significance. Major enterprises exported their production to over 40 countries abroad. Unfortunately, not all of them are functioning at present; neither are all the products of those that are working available to local consumers.

Geto-Dacian dwellings, Great Peoples' Migration, invasions of Turkish sultan's horde and influence of the Russian Empire are the major milestones of the town's history. According to historians, the town was first mentioned in 1408 as a trade center on the Dniester bank. Alexander the Good, who was then the ruler of Moldova, gave a charter to Lvov merchants permitting them to practise commerce in the towns on the Dniester. In this historical document the settlement was mentioned under the name of Teghyanyakyacha, which probably gave rise to another name of the town - Tighina.

The heyday of the Turkish Empire in the late 14th - early 15th centuries also left a certain impact on the Tighina of the time. An advantageous strategic position on the riverbank was of great interest for the Porte. Therefore, in 1538, after a number of severe fights, the Turks captured the settlement. At that time they started constructing the famous fortress that together with the place received the status of region and was called Bender. It is said that Suleiman the Magnificent had a delicate and romantic nature; he erected the fortress, which is a major sightseeing of Bender now, to commemorate his beloved woman, the beautiful and unruly Roxolana, who had been born in the Ukrainian lands close to Bender. The origin of the town name is debatable; nevertheless, the favored explanation is that it was borrowed from Persian and means harbor, wharf and port town.

Bender's recent history is connected with the armed conflict of the year 1992. The inhabitants still remember shooting in the streets, sound of breaking glass and scare of death. Thus, the tragic events of the summer of 1992 added to traditional Bender's symbols a military armed truck on the pedestal, a chapel with a bell and other fragments of the Memorial in honor of those perished. The latter became a sign forbidding a fratricidal war and will hopefully serve as such for a long time.

The little town of Bender have given the world some famous personalities. For instance, its citizens are proud of Lev Semyonovich Berg, outstanding geographer and biologist. His writing on physical geography, paleontology, ichthyology, and climatic science have found an extremely high evaluation of experts in the fields. Now the house where he was born and lived bears a memorial plaque, whereas in the nearby municipal museum there is an exhibit devoted to the scientist.

In spring Bender is buried in white blossoms of acacia trees and their bewitching aroma envelopes the passer-byes. In summer roses do their jobs. The quiet and cozy town of Bender surprisingly pacificates one's heart and affects one's world perception. Coming here from the noisy capital one feels that problems are not global any more and many resolution options come to one's head. In Bender there is a peculiar life style inspiring to mediation and creation.

By Vlada Popushoi