These shots are taken at a memorial to Cecil John Rhodes. Rhodes was the British colonialist who made his wealth in the diamond rush - and founded the De Beers mining company - and went on to become Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. Rhodes Memorial is situated on the slopes of Devil's Peak - one of the two peaks that flank Table Mountain. The monument, built from granite, and modelled by Sir Herbert Baker on a Greek temple, was started in 1906 and completed and dedicated in 1912. The eight bronze lions were created by John Macallan Swan (the English painter and sculptor) and flank the 49 massive steps which lead up to the memorial The 49 steps represent each year of Rhodes' life.
23 comments:
These photos are great.
I love the glimpses between pillars; I suppose that's a good way of seeing....a good way of looking at life...glimpsing, then going forward.
Think I had too much wine at lunchtime!!
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That's a fascinating description, and it looks like a really beautiful memorial. Lovely :)
thank you so much for opening the door to this part of your country history! that's what is so great about the web... i would have loved a shot with the general setting of the memorial against the landscape: to complete the sense one gets from your series... would you have one or two?
Wonderful scenery, AV- such a shame such peaceful surroundings do not extend to a peaceful community.
I love taking shots between pillars, down alleyways - it's like looking through invisible doorways to see things on the other side, Jan :-)
The memorial is in a beautiful setting, Soph, but given that Rhodes was a colonialist he's not entirely popular anymore!
I had thought of including a shot of the general setting alaleh but I didn't like the ones I had and also didn't feel it quite fitted with the theme of the post. Perhaps I can include some in another post. I would like to do a post of some shots of the very beautiful city I live in.
Very true, Wilf, very true. In the past the mountains held a strong spiritual power for the people living here, but somehow people seem to have forgotten their connections the beauty of their environment and their gaze has turned to themselves and their own woes and fears.
Oh fabulous shots, Vanilla, I am quite liking Phoctober!
Thanks, Minx, yep, Phoctober is proving to be lots of fun - nice to exercise different creative "muscles".
great photos.
I want lion statuary. (not bronze of course, well yes, bronze would be nice, but too $$$ even to put on one's imaginary wish list).
Thanks, Taffiny - I definitely advocate huge bronze lions (along with a lottery win!) - I'd love to have one in my garden! I used to ride on the backs of those lions as a kid and it was such fun. In fact, I took the opportunity to do so again when I took the pics! ;-)
Speaking about invisible doorways, Vanilla (if I may address you as such), these photographs put me in mind of Narnia, even thought the landscape is not Narnian at all. The lion, obviously. Perhaps something else too though I can't think what. Lovely photos.
Some truly nice stuff, Ms. Vanilla. Awakened some primal travel instinct within myself.
Brilliant angles, Vanilla. I really...really love those lions!!! :)
The lions look very regal. My favourite pic is the first one because I like the way that they stretch up the hillside.
Damn it looks warm there. It's been rather miserable weather here today.
I'll say again...ever since I was a kid I have wanted to vist your corner of our globe. A few of your recent posts have driven home all the other stories of what's going on there today. Your photos only serve to re-enforce what a beautiful bit of country you live in.
Aha, Reading the Signs - I hadn't even thought of Narnia, but yes, now you mention it... ;-)
Does this mean I should expect a visit from you, MoonT?
Thanks, JD - yeah, the lions are very cool!
Hmm, well, it was warm here, Steve and then yesterday hail pelted down on the low ground and snow piled up on the mountains... so suddenly it's winter again.
It' is a beautiful country, Brian, no doubt at all about that. So shall I expect you too for a visit? ;-)
beautiful pictures :)
Thanks, Rambler.
;-)
I love these shots, they're so good.
49 steps for each year of his life... how apropos is that?
Steps for each year. Were some of them little and easy, and others huge and difficult? Aren't each of the years of our lives a step ahead as we learn, live and grow, toward the end.
Thanks for the great post.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Beautiful photos, AV! You captured the majesty of this impressive place. Somehow though I'm not feeling very comfortable thinking of what the monument represents. I've just followed your link to Wikipedia and read that quote attributed to Rhodes...
Hm, that would have made for a much more interesting monument, Scarlett, if some steps were big and others small :-) Unfortunately Sir Herbert Baker, the architect was a classicist in every sense of the word!
Vesper, you got it spot on. If Rhodes were to die today, he wouldn't get a monument. You'll notice I didn't include a shot of the huge bust of him that sits up at the top of the memorial, or any of the quotes about him. The place though is beautiful and the columns and lions make for great pics. But Sir Cecil - not a chance - he was your archetypal colonialist.
Oh I love these lions Vanilla and the columns. Not sure about Sir Cecil himself though. And it seems that you're going to be getting a lot of visitors!
Great to see these other shots AV... they really add to the mystery of the place. Very nice.
Not remotely sure about Sir Cecil either, V, but hey ho, you have to put the thing in context.
Does make a difference to see more of the site and situation, doesn't it, Shameless - all that's missing is the view from the memorial.
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