Monument to Viriathus (Zamora) facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 41°30′09″N 5°44′54″W / 41.502494°N 5.748472°W |
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| Location | Plaza de Viriato, Zamora, Spain |
| Designer | Eduardo Barrón |
| Material | Bronze, granite |
| Height | 2 m (statue) |
| Opening date | 12 January 1904 |
| Dedicated to | Viriathus |
The Viriato Monument is a famous statue in Zamora, Spain. It honors Viriathus, a brave ancient leader. You can find this monument in a square also named after him, the Plaza de Viriato. The monument shows a bronze statue of Viriathus, who was a shepherd and a leader of the Lusitanians people. It stands on a rough stone base that even has a battering ram on it!
About the Viriato Statue
The statue was created by a sculptor named Eduardo Barrón. He made it from bronze in Rome in 1883. Later, the Spanish government bought it.
The statue itself is 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. On its bronze base, you can read the words "terror romanorum". This means "terror of the Romans" and was a nickname for Viriathus.
The statue and its square base stand on a large granite pedestal. This granite came from a place called Torrefrades. Some people believe Torrefrades might be where Viriathus was born. A bronze battering ram sticks out from the front of this granite block. It was added in 1903.
The monument was first shown to the public on January 12, 1904. It didn't have a big opening ceremony.
Over time, this monument became a symbol for some groups. During a period called the Francoist dictatorship, a political group known as the Falange used the statue as an important symbol. This was partly because of the way Viriathus is shown standing.
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A close-up of the battering ram's head.
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A detailed view of the Viriato statue.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua de Viriato (Zamora) para niños
