Marble Frieze Voortrekker Monument

The design of the voortrekker monument.

Marble frieze voortrekker monument.

The world s longest marble frieze which depicts scenes from the trek. The voortrekker monument stands like an ancient obelisk over the city of pretoria. For the first time the 92 metre frieze of the voortrekker monument in pretoria one of the largest historical narratives in marble has been made the subject of a book. It commemorates the pioneers called the voortrekkers who moved into the interior of south africa between 1834 and 1854 in search of freedom and self government.

It is the only afrikaner monument declared to be a grade 1 national heritage site after 1994. A massive high domed hall 25x25x41 metres with marble floors and an impressive marble frieze 92 metres long and 2 3 metres high depicting historical scenes from the great trek. This massive granite structure is prominently located on a hilltop and was raised to commemorate the voortrekkers who left the cape colony between 1835 and 1854. The pictorial narrative of the boer pioneers who conquered south africa s interior during the great trek 1835 52 represents a crucial period of south africa s past.

It was designed by architect gerard moerdijk. Visitors entering the monument through the great teak front doors are greeted by an incredible sight. Download this stock image. This 43 meter high granite monument was inaugurated in 1949.

For the first time the 92 metre frieze of the voortrekker monument in pretoria one of the largest historical narratives in marble has been made the subject of a book. In the hall of heroes is the world s longest historical marble frieze. The frieze does not only depict the great trek but also a way of life methods of labour conflict religious beliefs and the way of life of the trekkers. The frieze against the walls of the monument s hall of heroes is an intrinsic part of its design the story of the great trek from 1835 to 1852 is depicted relief on 27 panels.

On 8 july 2011 the voortrekker monument designed by the architect gerard moerdijk was declared a national heritage site by the south african heritage resource agency. It is a unique monument which commemorates the pioneer history of southern africa and the history of the afrikaner and is situated in a beautiful setting. I walk through the main floor of the voortrekker monument and film and attempt to narrate the story told in the extraordinary marble frieze carved into the wall which depicts the great trek of. Marble frieze in the voortrekker monument showing scenes of the great trek pretoria south africa am5gbg from alamy s library of millions of high resolution stock photos illustrations and vectors.

The monument was inaugurated in 1949.