Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument is a monument in Pretoria in South Africa. It is a massive granite structure on a hilltop. It was built to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854. It was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk.
Background
Most of the Voortrekkers were not satisfied with the British government that ruled over them in the Cape. The British made English the official language, established racial equality (although it was limited), and in 1834, abolished slavery. That is why they packed their ox wagons and started the Great Trek to greener valleys to the north of current South Africa.
Importance
The Voortrekker Monument is an important structure to the Dutch (Afrikaner) bloodline (children), because it shows many pictures, reliefs and statutes inside the building of what happened in the history of those years.
Heritage
On 8 July 2011, the Voortrekker Monument was declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resource Agency.[1]
Voortrekker Monument Media
- Voortrekker Monument May 2006, IMG 3008.jpg
Wounded Voortrekker at Vegkop, detail of the historical frieze
- Voortrekker Monument By Sara Buijskes 1949.jpg
"Voortrekker Monument 1949" By Sara Buijskes
View of the Hall of Heroes in the Voortrekker Monument
- Voortrekker Cenotaph.jpg
Cenotaph in the cenotaph hall of the Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria; the symbolic tomb of the Retief delegation who were massacred by order of Dingane in 1838. The inscription: We for thee South Africa
- Voortrekker Monument Laager.JPG
The wagon laager wall features 64 wagons
- Voortrekker Vrou Statue.JPG
Voortrekker woman and children by Anton van Wouw
- Voortrekker Statue.JPG
Piet Retief statue at the Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria, designed by F. Kruger and carved by Skaris
The cenotaph is the symbolic tomb of Piet Retief and his delegation.
- Voortrekker Monument, interior from above.jpg
Looking from the sky dome downwards, 32 sun rays can be counted, reflecting the masonic influence of the architecture
- Relief of an ox-wagon, Voortrekker Monument.jpg
Relief of an ox-wagon on the laager wall
References
- ↑ "Voortrekker Monument Declared a National Heritage". Press release. 29 July 2011. http://www.sahra.org.za/voortrekkermonument.pdf. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
Coordinates: 25°46′35″S 28°10′33″E / 25.77639°S 28.17583°E
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