Great Zimbabwe

The entrance to the king's complex on the hill.

A view of the great enclosure from the king's complex.  From here the king could see his kingdom and all his wives.

The Zimbabwean flag.  Notice the bird on the left.

The king's court.  Can you see the bird in the rocks?

How about now?  This is the bird represented on the flag.

The faux granary showing the wealth of Great Zimbabwe.  It's now Zimbabwe's greatest icon.

Hanging out on the wall of the great enclosure.

                When you think of monuments to ancient civilizations in Africa, what comes to mind?  The pyramids of Egypt would easily be first, then maybe Timbuktu in Mali, but what about Great Zimbabwe?  It’s a long forgotten ruin that more than deserves recognition for the civilization and ability to teach us about ancient Africa.

                In 1980 Southern Rhodesia changed from a British colony to an independent country.  In search for a new name and symbol, they looked to the ancient civilization in the center of the country.  Zimbabwe means “house of big stones,” and Great Zimbabwe symbolized this with massive stone walls and civilization.  Furthermore, the bird symbolized on the Zimbabwean flag comes from a stone crafted bird found in Great Zimbabwe in addition to stones in the King’s judicial court in the form of the bird.  Despite this deep representation of Zimbabwe, few Zimbabweans ever travel there.

                The greatest era of reign for this ancient civilization was from the 11^th to 16^th centuries.  Due to seasonal winds and greater abilities to travel exceptional distances, traders from all over the world landed in ports in current Mozambique to trade with Great Zimbabwe.  This impressive feat of trading with sea faring vessels despite their location far from any port is only shown in one other place in Africa (Axum, Ethiopia).  From the coast goods would be brought into Great Zimbabwe, which in turn would be traded for goods to be sent back to the ports.  The results are astounding: pottery, tools, and beads have been found from Portugal, Persia, and China.  These cultures were interested in Great Zimbabwe’s two greatest commodities: gold and ivory.  As a result Great Zimbabwe flourished and became the greatest sub-Sahara African ruins that we have today.

                The ruins are basically divided into two areas: the king’s hill complex (perched high on a hill overlooking the rest of the structures) and the great complex.  Between these two areas there is evidence of education, iron smelting, a court of law, and congregation area to discuss issues with advisors.  In a sign of wealth (a la the Tower of Pisa in Italy), Great Zimbabwe constructed a fake granary which still stands as the premier symbol of Zimbabwe. 

                I took a two hour tour of the ruins with a Zimbabwean guide.  We battled the heat and baboons to explore the grounds, but the effort was worthwhile.