SYMBOLISME ET EXPRESSIONS DES BAS – RELIEFS DES DOUZE (12) ROIS DU DANXOME (PLATEAU D’ABOMEY)
Keywords:
Bas-reliefs, Symbolism, Expressions, twelve kings, Abomey plateauAbstract
The royal dynasty of Abomey has seen twelve (12) famous kings since its creation by Houégbadja, the founding father of the Kingdom of Danxomè (1645-1685) and that of Béhanzin (1889-1894) (Vincent Guézodjè). Royal power, passed down from father to son, sometimes reflects the principle of continuity, or, when the deceased king did not achieve his objectives, the crown prince, upon ascending the throne, seeks to pursue the goals of his deceased father as well as his own during his reign.
In its quest to expand its territory, the kingdom waged wars against neighboring localities, sometimes resulting in victories that were symbolically commemorated in bas-reliefs.
Each king chose an allegory in the form of an object or animal to identify himself and mark his reign with the great deeds and victories he achieved in war against his adversary. These bas-reliefs, a registered trademark of the kingdom in terms of heritage, served as a form of writing, memory, narration, and dating of events during each king's reign.
References
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6-Waterlot, Em.G. Les Bas-relief des bâtiments royaux d’Abomey (Dahomey). Travaux et mémoires de l’Institut d’Ethnologie, I. Paris : Institut d’Ethnologie,1926. P 35-36-42.
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