Statue of David Livingstone, Bronze statue in Princes Street Gardens, Scotland
The Statue of David Livingstone is a bronze figure standing in Princes Street Gardens in central Edinburgh. It depicts the explorer holding a Bible, dressed in a cloak with travel gear and equipment at his sides including a compass and firearm.
The bronze figure was created between 1875 and 1876 by sculptor Amelia Robertson Hill, shortly after Livingstone died in Africa. It was made during a period when Edinburgh sought to honor the achievements of notable figures through lasting monuments.
The statue portrays Livingstone as a missionary and explorer, reflecting how Edinburgh valued his role in opening knowledge about distant lands. The monument shows how the city chose to remember someone whose work extended its influence far beyond Scotland.
The figure stands in Princes Street Gardens near the Scott Monument and is easy to reach from the main street. The location provides clear sightlines and allows visitors to study the figure and its decorated base comfortably.
The lion skin at the base of the monument recalls a dramatic encounter during Livingstone's travels when he survived an attack by a lion. This detail transforms the memorial into a visual record of the hazards he faced in his journeys.
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