Monument to Hernán Cortés, Bronze statue in Medellín, Spain
The Monument to Hernán Cortés is a bronze statue portraying the conquistador in military dress, holding the Castilian standard while standing upon fragments of Aztec altars and religious idols. The sculpture occupies the central plaza of this town, creating a focal point in the public space.
Sculptor Eduardo Barrón created this monument in 1890 using bronze sourced from decommissioned military cannons, a material donation arranged by Deputy Carlos Groizard. The work emerged during an era when European conquest narratives were commemorated through public sculpture.
Four bronze plates on the pedestal display names of significant battles during Mexico's conquest: Otumba, Tlascala, Tabasco, and Mexico.
The monument is located in Medellín's central plaza, making it easy to visit while walking through the town center. Best viewed during daylight hours to appreciate the full details of the bronze sculpture and surrounding area.
The statue's transportation to its location required more than thirty ox-drawn carts, with several vehicles sinking during the journey across the terrain. This logistical challenge reveals how difficult it was to move and install such a large bronze sculpture in the 19th century.
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