Angel of Independence
The Monument of Independence | |
---|---|
Native name Spanish: Monumento a la Independencia, Ángel de la Independencia | |
Location | Mexico City, Mexico |
Coordinates | 19°25′37.1994″N 99°10′03.7554″W / 19.426999833°N 99.167709833°W |
Elevation | 45 metres (148 ft) |
Inaugurated by | Porfirio Díaz |
Built | September 16, 1910 |
Built for | Centenary of Mexican Independence |
Restored | September 16, 1958 |
Restored by | José Fernández Urbina |
Architect | Antonio Rivas Mercado Gonzalo Garita Manuel Gorozpe Enrique Alciati (sculptures) |
Architectural style(s) | Corinthian column Victory column |
Governing body | Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia |
The Angel of Independence, most commonly known by the shortened name El Ángel and officially known as Monumento a la Independencia ("Monument to Independence"), is a victory column on a roundabout on the major thoroughfare of Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Mexico City.
El Ángel was built in 1910 during the presidency of
.Description
The base of the column is quadrangular with each vertex featuring a bronze sculpture symbolizing law, war, justice and peace. Originally, nine steps led to the base, but due to the sinking of the ground, an ongoing problem in Mexico City, fourteen more steps have been added.
On the main face of the base facing downtown Mexico City, an inscription reads La Nación a los Héroes de la Independencia ("The Nation to the Heroes of Independence"). In front of this inscription is a bronze statue of a giant, laureled lion that guides a child, which symbolizes, according to Rivas Mercado, "the Mexican people, strong during war and docile during peace."[1]
Next to the column is a group of
Crowning the column is a 6.7 metres (22 ft) statue by
History
Construction of the column of independence topped by a depiction of winged victory was ordered in 1900 by President Porfirio Díaz. Antonio Rivas Mercado began to design the monument, envisioned as a column with both classical and modern elements, with bronze statues at its base. The foundation stone was laid on January 2, 1902.[2]
Placed in it was a gold chest with a record of independence and a series of coins minted in that epoch. But in May 1906, when the foundations were built and 2,400 stones placed to a height of 25 m, the sides of the monument collapsed, so Díaz created a study commission composed of engineers Guillermo Beltrán y Puga, Manuel Marroquín y Rivera, and Gonzalo Garita. The commission determined that the foundations of the monument were poorly planned, so it was decided to demolish the structure. The work was restarted under the supervision of a
The monument was completed in time for the festivities to commemorate the first hundred years of
An eternal flame (Lámpara Votiva) honoring these independence heroes was installed in the base of the column at the order of President Emilio Portes Gil in 1929.
The monument suffered some damage during an earthquake on July 28, 1957, when the sculpture of the Winged Victory fell to the ground and broke into several pieces. Sculptor José Fernández Urbina was in charge of the restoration, which lasted more than a year. The monument was reopened on September 16, 1958. It survived the devastating earthquake of September 19, 1985, with some damage to the staircases and the reliefs, but none to the Angel.
On August 16, 2019, following feminist demonstrations against gender-based violence and feminicides, the monument was affected due to acts of vandalism and graffiti. The Government of Mexico City closed access for an indefinite period; but it is estimated that it could be between one and two years. However, the capital government declared justifying that the closure is due to the restoration, within the framework of a work program in Paseo de la Reforma that involves several more monuments. The restorations concluded in October 2021.[4]
Mausoleum
In 1925, during the administration of
The actual remains of insurgents are buried in the mausoleum:
- Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla: Chief instigator of independence in 1810 and "Father of the Nation".
- Father José María Morelos y Pavón: Skilled general and leader of the independence movement after Hidalgo's execution.
- Ignacio Allende: Lieutenant general of the insurgent army and later rebel leader.
- captainand conspirator.
- José Mariano Jiménez: Hidalgo's lieutenant colonel.
- Guadalupe Victoria: Commander of the insurgent army and first President of Mexico.
- generalfollowing the death of Morelos and second President of Mexico.
- Nicolás Bravo: Commander of the rebel army and later President of Mexico on three occasions.
- Mariano Matamoros: A priest who served as Morelos's lieutenant general.
- Andrés Quintana Roo: A prominent constitutionalist.
- Leona Vicario: Active supporter of the rebel movement and wife of Andrés Quintana Roo.
- Ferdinand VII.
- Pedro Moreno: Insurgente
- Víctor Rosales: Insurgente
Absent from the mausoleum is
More than 60 years after the mausoleum was erected, on September 16, 1998, it was permanently opened to the public by
On May 30, 2010, as part of the Bicentennial celebrations of the War of Independence, the remains of the National Heroes were
Visiting
Visitors may enter the monument, view the memorial plaques at the base level, and climb to the top of the tower. While entry is free, visitors must obtain a permit at the Cuauhtémoc borough by showing an ID.[7] Groups of no more than six people are permitted inside the monument for about 15 minutes.[8] With about 200 steps,[9] the climb is arduous. The first approximately 15 stairs, located in the monument the base, are wide and comfortable. The stairs in the column itself, approximately 185, are circular, metal, very narrow and without a landing or resting point until the top. Visitors who are not in good physical shape will find the climb exhausting—it is the equivalent of climbing a 14-story building in one go, and those not comfortable in tight spaces should avoid the climb as it has insufficient room to allow others to bypass. Some staircase areas are very dark, with only a few slits to let in light. The top balcony, though narrow, offers a commanding view[10] of the wide avenues that surround the column. The return trip down is by way of the same circular staircase.
More recently El Ángel has become the traditional gathering place for celebration by Mexico City inhabitants, particularly following Mexico national football team victories and as a focal point for political rallies.[11]
As of March 2016, visiting inside is limited to Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
See also
- Prinzregentenstrasse, Munich
- La Victoria del Viento
- Berlin Victory Column
- Independence Monument, Kyiv
- Mexican War of Independence
- Porfirio Díaz
- Porfiriato
References
- ^ Zorrilla, Begoña (August 2010). "El Ángel de Independencia". Mexicanísimo. 30: 53.
- ^ Díaz Flores Alatorre, Manuel. Recuerdo del Primer Centenario de la Independencia Nacional: Efemérides de las fiestas, recepciones, actos políticos, inauguraciones de monumentos, y de edificios, etc.. Mexico City: Rondero y Treppiedi 1910, n.p.
- ^ Díaz Flores Alatorre, Manuel. Recuerdo del Primer Centenario de la Independencia Nacional: Efemérides de las fiestas, recepciones, actos políticos, inauguraciones de monumentos, y de edificios, etc.. Mexico City: Rondero y Treppiedi 1910.
- ^ Maerker, Denise (7 October 2021). "Reabren el Ángel de Independencia al público". Noticieros Televisa (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ Thomas Benjamin, La Revolución: Mexico's Great Revolution as Memory, Myth, and History. Austin: University of Texas Press 2000, pp. 184-85, footnote 30.
- ^ "Trasladan restos de héroes a Chapultepec" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Saavedra, Enrique. "Time Out". www.timeout.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Ángel de la Independencia in Mexico City - See the Iconic Victory Column". www.hotels.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Angel of Independence (Monumento a la Independencia) - Free admission". www.viator.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "El Angel de la Independencia, Mexico City". guanajuatomexicocity.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "El Ángel – Monument to Independence". mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
Further reading
- Baird, David; Bairstow, Lynne (2004). Frommer's Mexico 2005. Wiley Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0764567632.
- Legorreta, Jorge (Sep. 18, 2002). "Tres figuras aladas erigidas a la libertad". La Jornada. In Spanish
- Loaeza, Guadalupe (1998). El Ángel de nuestras nostalgias. Plaza y Janés. ISBN 9681103149. In Spanish
- Blair, Kathryn Skidmore (2001). In The Shadow of The Angel. First Books. ISBN 0759606315.