Guerrero Chimalli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guerrero Chimalli |
|
|---|---|
The sculpture in 2018 (the unrelated In Search of the Truth project is seen at the entrance)
|
|
| Artist | Sebastián |
| Year | 2014 |
| Medium | Steel |
| Dimensions | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Weight | 870 t (860 long tons; 960 short tons) |
| Location | Chimalhuacán |
| 19°24′47″N 98°59′02″W / 19.41306°N 98.98389°W | |
| Website | experiencia.edomex.gob.mx |
Guerrero Chimalli (which means "Shield Warrior" in Spanish) is a giant steel sculpture. You can find it in Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico. This amazing artwork was created by a famous artist named Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal.
The sculpture is about 60 meters tall, which is like a 20-story building! It looks like an ancient warrior holding a Chīmalli (a type of shield) and a mace. The bottom part of the sculpture is a museum. There's also a special viewing area inside the sculpture where you can look out over the city. It's even a bit taller than the Statue of Liberty if you don't count their bases!
Contents
About the Giant Warrior
What is Guerrero Chimalli?
.jpg)
The Guerrero Chimalli sculpture is a huge red Aztec warrior. It stands about 50 meters tall. The artist, Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal, designed it. The warrior holds a Chīmalli (shield) and a mace.
The sculpture itself weighs around 600 tons. But when you add its concrete base, which is 10 meters high, and the 65 strong poles that hold it up, the total height becomes 60 meters. The total weight goes up to 870 tons! Because it's so tall and bright red, you can see it from all over Chimalhuacán and nearby areas.
How it was Built
Work on the sculpture began between 2009 and 2012. It is made from 33 pieces of steel that were welded together. These pieces were then painted with a special red paint called polyurethane.
The artwork cost about $2.4 million to build. The government also improved the area around the sculpture. They added a fountain, bridges, and trees. These extra improvements cost another $1.4 million.
Visiting the Sculpture
The Guerrero Chimalli was officially opened on December 13, 2014. It was built to honor the Tenochcas. These were the brave warriors who defended Tenochtitlan during the Fall of Tenochtitlan.
One of the coolest parts of the sculpture is the observation deck. This viewing area is located in the warrior's arm. It is 40 meters long and 2.4 meters high. You can reach it by climbing 250 steps or by taking an elevator from the base.
Sebastián, the artist, called his work "an exceptional, attractive and emotional colossus." He said its goal is to "promote the spirit" and help people "understand what we are." He also hoped it would help society move forward with a "modern and universal mentality."
See also
- Coyote en Ayuno, another sculpture by Sebastián in the neighboring municipality of Nezahualcóyotl.
- List of tallest statues
