Great Zimbabwe
Many of the earliest artworks found in Africa come from the south-
ern part of the continent (for example,FIG. 1-3). The most famous
southern African site is a complex of stone ruins at the large south-
eastern political center called Great Zimbabwe. First occupied in the
11th century, the site features walled enclosures and towers that date
from about the late 13th century to the middle of the 15th century.
At that time, the Great Zimbabwe empire had a wide trade network.
Finds of beads and pottery from the Near East and China, along with
copper and gold objects, underscore that Great Zimbabwe was a
prosperous trade center well before Europeans began their coastal
voyaging in the late 15th century.
GREAT ENCLOSUREMost scholars agree that Great Zimbab-
we was a royal residence with special areas for the ruler (the royal hill
complex), his wives, and nobles, including an open court for cere-
monial gatherings. At the zenith of the empire’s power, as many as
18,000 people may have lived in the surrounding area, with most of
the commoners living outside the enclosed structures reserved for
royalty. Although the actual habitations do not survive, the remain-
ing enclosures are unusual for their size and the excellence of their
stonework. Some perimeter walls reach heights of 30 feet. One of
these, known as the Great Enclosure (FIG. 15-10), houses one large
and several small conical towerlike stone structures, which have been
interpreted symbolically as masculine (large) and feminine (small)
forms, but their precise significance is unknown. The form of the
large tower suggests a granary. Grain bins were symbols of royal power
and generosity, as the ruler received tribute in grain and dispensed it
to the people in times of need.
SOAPSTONE MONOLITHSExplorations at Great Zim-
babwe have yielded eight soapstone monoliths(sculptures carved from
a single block of stone). Seven came from the royal hill complex and
probably were set up as part of shrines to ancestors. The eighth mono-
lith (FIG. 15-11), found in an area now considered the ancestral
15-10Walls and tower,
Great Enclosure, Great
Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe,
14th century.
The Great Zimbabwe
empire in southern Africa
had a trade network that
extended to the Near East
and China. The royal
residence was surrounded
by 30-foot-high stone
walls and conical towers.15-11Monolith
with bird and crocodile,
from Great Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe, 15th century.
Soapstone, bird image
1 2 –^12 high. Great
Zimbabwe Site Museum,
Great Zimbabwe.
This soapstone monolith
stood in the ancestral
shrine of a Great Zimba-
bwe ruler’s wife. The bird
and crocodile may sym-
bolize previous rulers who
act as messengers between
the living and dead.11th to 18th Centuries 4011 in.