Palace Sculptures of Abomey History Told on Walls 7-45 p. Getty Conservation Institute

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The Kingdom of Dahomey

When the celebrated British

explorer Sir Richard Burton visite

the kingdom of Dahomey in the

he encountered a milita

ristic traditional society ruled

by an all-powerful monarch and

bou nd together by ela borate ritua

The pageantry of the Dahomean

court "is to be compared withthat of Europe, he wrote. The

"intense person al veneration

of the king "remind s me of . . .

Mohammed the apostle and his

fol lowers . . . . To this exceeding

care only can be attributed theprotracted reigns of a dynasty

w hos e . . . m e m be rs h ave s at

u pon the throne years, thus

rivalling the seven Roman mon

archs whose rule extended over

nerly the s am e period.

According to legend,

the Dahoey kings

were descended fro

the Inion of a thi-

cal leopard depicted

here, and a princess

fro the kingdom

of Tado.

Phoograph by

Susa Middleton, 1994.



8

ime Line ca. 1200 Maton of

on anetor Kindom o

ado and Aada onded

A rol orllr

i oci wih o

wri lgg

h hrl p

ow h kigom

hior from gr

io o grio

Phoogph by Spi

ad G Aogi 19

H E K N G D O M O D A O M

The hstory of te Daoey

kigdo is ideed a og ad veeraeoe e acesors of te o, a Wes

frica people related o te Youa,

gra ted souward fo te Nger Rver

i aout te teet cetury settlig

e souter regos of wa ae today

Be ad ogo Bloody quarels for suc

cesso dvded te oyal leades, ad y

te early 60 0s, te rival caps ad sepa-

ated to wat would ecoe te tree

warig kgdos of lada, PotoNovo

ad Daoeyike ay frca societes, te

o cultue was essetialy oal, ad te

sories tat recout te origs of te

Daoey kigdo are coplex ad ofe

cotadictoy Befoe te arival of e r

Euopea vsiors to te kigdo i e

eary egeet ceuy, very little was

actualy recoded i wrie for or ce

uries, croclers cose y te kg wer

etusted wt pepeuatg te cultue

ecitig stores pulic, ut teir ara

tves wee largely ied to roya story

sgig e praises of oarcs past ad

pese. Because te eads could e pu

ised y deat if tey strayed fro te of

1470 it Eropean andin Wet Arica; ave trade

oon ben1492 Comb and in

he ew World.



T H E K N G D M F D A M

cial verson te acconts vaed ltte

ove tie Many o tese store s are represented in te bas relies on te wals o

boeys paaces

King Hoegbadja te td tadi

tiona Daoean onac is oten con

sideed te dynastys tre onder. In te

seventeent centry e establ ised te

ingdos captal on te rolling plain o

te boey patea wee e bilt te

st roya paace and developed te adin-

istrative beacracy and te elgios and

politca cltre tat wod coe to caacterze te ingdo. Hee too e nit

ated te ngdo's expansionist tadition

conqering te neigboing Gdv peope

and vaios oter ocal ciedos. He estab-

lsed conto over n grops and bral

cstos pleented a syste o laws

to be obeyed nder penaty o deatand

posed a ead tax wc e sed to p-

case ears sppeentng traditional

weapons sc as te spea and te atcet

Dring Hoegbadas regn te on

peope st began to cal teir ngdo

Daoey. ccording to one verson o te

legend Hoegbadjas son aba vsted te

ose o a Gdvi cie naed Dan wo

1501 Afa ave intro

ded to te Span Indie

ca 1600 Gaieo ad

Dako ette not of Abomey

Bsrlif comm mo

rig h kigoms

rs co r wih

Erops i h

rly ighh

cry rig h

rig of ig Agj

who h op

Erop ship s

o of his smbols

hoogaph y

ranceca iqu, 1

ca 1620 ako aend

the throne.

ca. 1645-1685 oebada

etabhe eat o ahomeykdo in Abomey, where e

bid te fit oya paae

16851708 Aaba re

Dahoey; inven newabe to behead h enem

pomote h rat aem-ttin embroidery

and fabri dyi.



H E K N G D O M O D A H OM E

opposed Hoegadja's le. aa

reqested a plo of lad o which o id

a palace a reqes ha Da wold have

ee olged o gra . fe Da elc-tatly copied aa ased fo ore

solciig ew ad lage los il at las

Da agrily cried ot Soo yo wl e

ldig o y e ly! The ex igh

aa sed this each eiqette as a

reaso to attac ad l Da. Upo sc

ceedg o he thoe he il his palace

o Das grave o eas

"elly. Ths the ae of he gdo

Dan ierally eas "o the ely

of DaI was also Hoegadja who iro-

dced he al Cstos ceeoes

which wold soo ecoe he igdo's

ost iportat rta osevace Devel-

oped ad elaorated y folowig oachs

the Csos were a peod of fesiviies

vovig he etire popla io as well

as ay visiig digitaies ) which oh

expressed ad reforced the lers rela

tioshp wih hs peope. The palace cort

yards ad the ows plc sqaes weeoraeted with coorfl aes ags

ad pavlios Vodo cereoes wee

pefored litay paades dsplayed he

gs igh ad rial daces gloied the

oach as he spee rer o earh

Vou ou i ii i h

coum of Zgboguri of h igh

Durig h ul

uom crmo i

pri ivir

wr coul o hlp

ci po lic for h

comig r

Phoogaph y

usa Middleo '7

A omwh fc iful

pic io of h

ul uom

fivi i big wi

b Europ

viior Thi rwig

origi ll ppr

i o of h r

publih cripio

0813 Aaa re

ahomey drin he reatetperiod of exanon i the

kidom htory. He thefirt kin to have ontat

wit roean.

of h igom

Archibl Dll

1793 boo The

Hsory of Dahomy:

A lad Kgdom

o Arica.

eod ediio, 16 pu

lshed y ak Cass &

Compay Essex, Egad a Cass & Co. Ld

Repied y pemisso

11 ahomey on

qer eihborin ate ofAada and Odah and bein

o domnate reion averade.

131 ebeo reDaomey; idah beome a

orihin pot and te kndom eond-aret ity

138 Oyo empie invade

ahomey etabihe a ri

te yem



A romici l

ig-cry

picio of

Domy rmy

ig io bl

rcig growig

fm i Erop of

kigom's fml

wrrors.

om Dae Hso oD 193; eod edi

io 196 pu lihed y

ak Ca & Compay,

Eex, Egad ak

Ca & Co Ld Reped

pemiio

1774-1789 Kena eahomey trenthen army,

ad onqer oata ite in

modernday Neria ad oo.

1789-1797 Aono rleDahomey, oen the idom

to Chritan and Mim

miionarie.

1797-1818 Adandozanre ahomey; he i over

trown i a aae o

ccording to traditonal on bf

th visi word was bt part of a vastrrality that ncdd th nsn word of

th spirts and ancstors Dring th

Cstoms crmons crimnals and priso

rs o f war wr sacricd as "mssngrs

arng qstions to th "dadand of

royal ancstors. nswrs from th ancsto

wr rcivd throgh divnaton incld

ing th sprit po ssssion o f vodo prist

thry conscrating th crrnt rgm b

rinvoking ts tis to th past. h practc

trobld th Eropan visitors who wit

nssd t. "Th cbration o f th Cutom

saly contns abot a month dring

1818-188 Gezo reahomey iberate indom

from yo dominatio ro·

mote amoi roei aan eonom aternatve to te

ave trade

ca. 183 Severa Eroea

ontrie otaw te ave t



H E K N G D O M O D A H O M E

wic tere is some exibitio every fort,

or maret , day, oted te Egis adve-

trer Arcibald Dalzel i 1793 Te wole

wod afford a very amsig specac e, ifit were ot for te ma sacrices wic

are aaly made for te prpose of

ing, accordig to te cotry expressio,

te graves of te deceased royal family.'

rom legedary origis, te, grew

a igy orgaized ad ercely expasio-

is igdom i wic eac rer waged

war to oor a raditioal obligatio o

mae Daomey ever greater I te 1720

aided by a corps of erce female warriors,

Aabas broer, Kig Agaa, overcamelarger armies o sbgate several eig

borig riva igdoms icdig e

strategically criical port tow of Oida,

wic by te served as a major ceter of

te West Africa save trade Te Daomey

wome warriors were caled Amazos by

e Eropeas, after e legedary female

warriors of Gree mytology tey wod

become a dyastic traditio

Daomey's coqests permitted direc

commerce wit te traders, especialy tePortgese ad rec, wo were expor

ig a estimaed six osad saves a year

from West Africa to plaaios i e

New World . Drig te secod alf of e

eigee cetry, Daomeys prowess as

a warrior atio allowed it to moopoize

te Oida slave trade. Armed wit

weapos obaied i excage for slaves,

te o were abe o defed emseves

agaist ogoig treats from te larger

Oyo empire, a powerfl Yorba igdom

to te east, i wat is today Nigeria

Noeteless, te Oyo scceeded i

exactig aal ribte paymets from

geeratios of Daomey's igs I was o

il 818 , at te begiig of e reig

of Gezo, oe of Daomey's most famos

moarcs, at te o were ally able to

liberae temseves from teir Oyo over-

lords I te decades tat folowed, Gezo

cotied to sregte ad expad teigdom, allyig imself wi a Porgese

adverer wo ad eped im come o

power ad wo, i retr, was grated a

virtal moopoy over e Oida arms

ad save trade Trogot mc of te

ietee cetry, Daomey was oe of

te ricest ad most powerfl igdoms i

Africa Is army at tis ime was estimaed

o mber some twelve tosad soldiers

ad for osad Amazos Te Amazos

costitted oe of te armys elite corps,

servig as te igs paace gards ad

formig a special palax tat accompa-

ied e moarc ito batle.

Te Daomea moarcy, owever,

wold prove o mac for te peavas

tat were o come. Te developmet of te

slave trade ad aracted Eropeas itet



Dahoman womn

warriors or Amaons.

h ho rns probabl

ma of in wr a n

insignia of rank hs

ar ors. Horns

wr also ions of

powr assoia wih

sh animals as h

anlop an balo

183 Bitih eizeoree ave hp

the ave rade ctaied.

rios a nlop"

an wil balo"

ars wr among

h rs Amaon

baalions.

Photograph by a rench

mlitay docto who

accompanied the colonia l

army, ca 894 ourtesy

Getty Research nstitu te

Reseach Library 9456.

18 Dahoean troop

nder Gezo atack he bacapita of Abeoka bt areondy defeated Aazon

cadre inr heavy oe

on explotng Wes frcas econoc poeta In te 180 0s, as nternatonal aol

tonst voces called fo a worldwde end

to slavery slave traders searced for alter

natve sorces o f ncoe ogot e

regon, Eopean nterest sed to pal

ol wc was extaced o te nts

o te area's andan pal trees and was

gly pred for rcatng acney

and as a key ngedent n argane,

candles and soap Kng Gezo establsed

a pal ol ndstry and attepted to

188-1889 G e

Dahoey, rebff ropeaninerventon in Dahoeyaffair.

1864 Seein revene for

h father defeat Gattack Abeokta another

defeat eave Dahoeanary everey weakened

1889-1894 Behanzin

re Dahoey

1892-1894 rench

nvade and conqerDahoey Behanzn ordhi troop o brn the ro

aace at Aboey.



T H E K I N G D O M O F D A O M E

increase Daoeys agrictra otpt

tog e contined to dea in slaves as

wel roncaly antislavery efforts drove p

te price of te an ercandseaing slave trading even ore protabe

tan before

ie is fater Gezo Daoey's

next ing G€l€ resi sted Eropean pres-

sre to eliminate bo t te save trade and

te practice o f rita an sacrice

Sir Ricard Brtons visit in te 1860s was

a mission from te Brits governent to

negotiate sc atters wit te Daoean

rler Wie ipressed by te ings rega

demeanor Brton was disappointed to ndtat te onarc wold not readily accede

to Britis demands "Te persona corte-

sies of te ing e wrote copared bady

wt is stbborn resove to ignore even

in te smalest matters te wises of Her

Majesty's Governent ( Glls assessent

of Brton accordng to Brton iself

was tat te Englisan was a good an

bt too angry.)

Brton conceded tat to abolis

an sacrce ere is to abolis Daoee practice originates from ial piety

t is sanctoned by long se and csto

and it is strenosly peld by a powerfl

and interested priestoo d . Geee I a

persaded cold not abolis an sac

rce f e wod and e wod not if e

cold Regarding te slave trade Gll€

responded to Brton tat it was a practice

establised by te Eropeans teselves

and e wold contne to sell wat te

Eropeans wanted

894 ehanzn rrenderahomey become a renc

protectoate Ao-Abo Iinaed on te thone by the

renc firt reoration ofoya paace at Abomey

bein

1900 epoiton and exie of

AoiAbo I.

AR AO:Yt

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hll

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II

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Mp pblih in lin rc h ro impl Grmn

e Pett Joural, of Eropn xplorr colon" n Engli

Frnch illr

mgin in

Spmbr , on

h of h Frnch

conq h lgn

no h h r

n hipping lin

h mll ricolor g

how h poiion

of Frnch roop

h nighboring r

riori r lbl

1914 Word War I beinAfrican from evera rench

coonie erve wi ditinctionin he rench army

1911 Te rench coonia 19141916 eiance

officia E. G. Waterot create movement aaint the

ca of paace bareief rench coonier oranized

colon"gging

h rgic impor

nc of Dhom

o h Frnch colo-

nil mpir.

1918 Word War I end

Gemany oe it Aficancoonie.



16

ovr ofL Ptt

Journal, Ag ,

. I h l i

h cr ill

r mgi

wr r poplr

i Frc. Le Pett

Journa, corv

iv il h of

ogh o glorif h

Frch coloi l or

rpor rglrl o

h Dhom cm

pig. Th mgi

cpio clim h

h ck of h

Dhom" i big

rpl b Frch

gbo i rli

h Frch rr

lrmig m colo

il ofcil who

wr oih h

hir rm h lo

kirmih o Afric

forc compo lrgl

of wom.

H K N G D O M O D A H O M

Le Pti Journal VDD

pp ;5 m

SUPPLEMNT ILLUSTRHu t pge CNQ

2 2

U !: r

ATTAQUE DE DA:Ol ENS ru r un nnnr



H E K N G D O M D A H M E

y te ate nineteent centuy tecolonal powers priarily itan France

elgu and Geranywee vying fo

superioity n frica wc n any respects

ad becoe an aena for te dispute of

European iperia rivaies e powerful

Daoean ay eanwie ad been

weaened by several defeats in batt les wt

te negboing Egba ngdo Largely fo

strategc purpo ses te Fenc sided wit

anote of Daoeys longte eneies

te ingdo of PotoNovo Glls succe s

sor eanzn aso cased wit France

ove suc ssues as savey and te igt to

wage war against Daoeys traditional

enees e Fenc found a petext fo

conquest in a dsagreeent ove te tesca. 1930 Orignal thatchoofs of paace buildngs

epaced wit corugated

meta

194 Historic Museu of

Abomey opens to the puic

I Dhom oi

bl wr comm

or b b-rlif

I hi o from Gtejll Dhom

wrrior i hooig

Yorb m

Phoogaph b

uzanne Peson Bie 19

1960 The Repubic ofDahoey wins independece.

1960-1972 Independence

foowed by perod of potica

nstabiity; numerous coupsand attempted coups

1972 Regme of revouti

miitary goenment begn



d

1975 Ne o homey

i hged to the Peope'epbi o Bei.

y

A glori picio

of Frch roop cr

rig h g i o

Abom. Bhi

h r o h

rol plc hor l

bfor hir rrivl

e Petit ornal,

c Dcmbr 1892.

1982 Abomey pe e

deigted Wod Hertgeutu ite by Ueo.

T E K I N G D O M O F D A O M

o he ench occupaon o he po owno Coonou n 18 90 Behanzin aunche

a peempve assaul on he ench a

Coonou, bu he ook heavy osses an

eeae owa Abomey A bie uce

ensue unkee own in his oyal com-

poun, he las nepenen monach o

ule ahomey connue o esis ench

chalenges o he kngom's inepenence

hen, n Augus 189 a ench coo-

nia amy gahee n PooNovo mache

on Abomey A sees o ece bales olowe, wih ahomean oces eeang

owa he capial In Novembe, King

Behanzin ie one las me o aly hs

solies, bu o no avail The ench

emane ha he ay own his ams he

euse naly, heaviy ougunne, he

king aempe o esoy wha he coul

no save Behanzin oee his oops o

eea hen, ahe han see he beove

paaces an hei sace ombs al ino

ench hans, he ha he och pu o hehomes o hs ancesos Behanzn an hs

amy sappeae ino he bush, whee

hey coninue o gh a gueila wa o

anohe yea. The king evenually suen-

ee o he ench on Januay 5 1894.

Beoe epaing ino enchmpos

ele, Behanzin pesene a aewell ae

o hs soes h his palaces esoye

his cou an soyees ispese, his

amy eeae, an h s peope acing he

unceainies o a coonze uue, he

monach wonee whehe he poweul

ahomey kingom migh no ae om

he wos memoy "hen my waios

ose by he housan o een ahomey

1985 Aboey pe re

ped o the t of ed·geed ite by Ueo



H E K N G D O M O F D A H O M E

an is King, I ouy ecognie he

same valo shown by he waios of Agaa,

egbessou, uezo, an ll, he sai.

"Desie ou bavey an he usice of

ou cause, ou oos wee ecimae .

Aleay my weeing voice awakens no echo

hee ae he aen Amazons? hee,

hei inomiabe chiefs? . hee, my

comaes in ams? . . ho will sing of

hei gea sacice? . Deae coman

ions . . hee is he offeing of memoy

a ile oil, a ile ou, an bloo o f he

bull . ee he ac is enewe befoe he

gea eaue. aewel, soies, faewell

Behanzin woul ie in eie some welve

yeas lae

Dahomey was oclaime a Fench

oecoae, an by he en of 1897 he

Fench conolle he enie eioy of

he esenay Reubic of Benin, which

hey cale he colony of Dahomey hey

insalle Behanzins halfbohe, Agoli-

Agbo on he hone, only o eose an

eile him an aoin a oweful ench

goveno In 904 he colony of Dahomey

was inegae ino he feeaion of

ench es Afica

he ench insiue an "inigen

sysem, base on he conce ha Aficans

wee no maue enough o ake cae of

hei own affais Aficans wee consiee

subecs ahe han ciizens hey ha o ay

B-rliffrom

Guo ll

showig wrrior

pl ig g o

co qur rriory

Phoograph by

usan Mddleon, 994



20

m m ! »

E K N G D O M O D A O M

g ehanzin eX-Toi du Dahoesa faile et a suite

"Once he had descended [from the Abomey plateau] to the surround

ing plain, [8ehanzin] stopped to look behind him. The entire plateau

was in flames and the sky above like a calabash of blood After

having watched his paace go up in flames [8ehanzin] remained

motioness with his head between his hands Respecting his grief,

the high priests went into prayer, and the bokono made divinations

to know what the future now held in store for them Finally he got

up Then with his faithful folowers of Amazons, bokono warriors

high priests women, and chidren he set off for the forest There in

its womb he ived for almost two years, unbeknownst to the French

who hounded him like a beast protected by his gris-gris and the

magic of his bokono"

Maryse Cond, Th Lat f th fa © 1997 by the University of Nebraska Press © 992 Edtions Mercure de France

Translated by Rchard Phlcox Reprnted by permission.

bo Frch po

cr c 1905, how

ig Bhi i xil

wih hi fmil

r, horl bf

hi h. Oppoi:

goli-gbo c 189oo fr h Frch

ill him o h

hro. mo

bogr wrig

hor, c b

bhi o of h

kig wi

out Gtt Rsach

nsttut Rsach La

ZPC ao, 94. 6

(oppost)



22

Dir grs

ofplm oil

Abom mrk

Photograph

Lesle Raner '994.

Mor bs-rlif b

pri okogb

fm il picig h smbol of

Agoli-Agbo f foo bo o rip

or rock h

ccompig moo

smbl b

i o fll" pl

xprsss h

popls rc

Phoograph y

usan Mddleon, '997

axes wile underging severe resric ins

n persnal and pliical freedm Alug

amey ad isricaly derived issreng frm is erce warrir kings ms

f is pepe were farmers w ended frui

rees raised ivesck and paned naive

crps ike yams mile and cn as wel

as e maize acc and cffee impred

frm e New Wrld y urpean raders.

Frenc gvernance wic aimed enric

e Frenc ecnmy a e expense f e

clny verexplied e and's resurces.

Beanzins cncerns regarding e

fae f Fn cuure p rved wel funded .

Te Frenc insiued a sysem f scial

services esaising eal ceners in e

principa wns and implemening an

educainal sysem develped argey y

Caic missinaries w ad rs esa

lised scls ere in e 860s Te cl

nial scls sysemaicaly ried scure

H E K N G D O M O D A O M

amey's radiina cuure Te Frenc

cnsidered African culure generay

e unciviized ey aemped frce

indigenus Africans aandn eir wrs emrace e civilizain f Crisia

Eurpe and adp e Frenc language

espie suc pressures wever

Fn peple managed ld fas eir

wn culural eliefs parly y drawing n

eir ngsanding deeply ingrained ra

radiins. A e same ime amey

ecame e "ain Quarer f Wes Africa

knwn fr is wriers prfessinals and

ariss And irnicaly eaders f an rga

nized aniclnia pres mvemenemerged frm e ranks f inellecuas

rained in e Frencin siued scs.

Immediaely fwing Wrld War I

ameys educaed elie egan carrying

u press agains e clnial gvern

men In 1958 e Frenc naly graned

ppular ve decide saed and e

flwing year e Repulic f amey

ecame an independen memer f e

Frenc Cmmuniy f saes. amey

wever cninued press fr cmpleeaunmy and n Augus 1 960 afer

sixysix years f Frenc gvernmen e

independen Repulic f amey insall

Huer Maga as is rs presiden

Te new sae survived a perid f

urulen piica aciviy frm 19 60

1972 flwed y a revluinary miliary

regime under General Maieu Kku

frm 972 990 Aug e new gve

men was iniialy emraced y e ppul

in discnen sn ecame widespread

and in 1 990 e singlepary gvernmen w

dismaned A perid f demcraic renew

flwed; in e new Repuic f Benin's

rs presidenia elecin Nicpre Sg

was ved in fce in 199 and in 996

Krkuy en an advcae f demc

ic rulewas eleced presiden



Trugu e umuluus wen

ie cenury e n argely rug

ar and riualave preserved a cn

necn er cuural deny days

king a descenden f AgiAgb J, is

an eeced represenaive f e ryal fam

lies f Abmey w fullls an essena

ceremnial funcn Te n cnnue

revere er radnal leaders and respec many aged cusms Te ryal

cmpund a Abmey serves as e ear

f se bservances and uses e

museum were e amey kingdms

reasures are dsplayed A cenury afer

Beanzins surrender e renc e

plea mpci n s farewel addressa

e amean dynasy n be frgen

as fund s ec

1988 Fifty-ix ba-re ief

deached fro oe of Gpaace buiding (j) and

paced i toage

19881997 G

aaaa, tucturay da

aged, rebuit

19891990 Benn beoe

a deocracy; nae changed

to Repubic of Beni

Richard Burton A Mission to Ge/ele King of

Dahome (864; reprint with an introduction and

notes by C.W. ewbury ondon: Routledge and

Kegan Pau 1966) p. 49·

Archibald Dazel The Hisory of Dahomy: An

Inland Kingdom of Africa 93 reprint London

Frank Cass and Co. 96 pp_ xxixii

3 his story is vividyif sorrowulyrecounted

in ctional orm in Bruce Chatwin's short histori

cal nove The Vieroy of Ouidah (New YorkPenguin Books 980 which was made into the

m Cobra Verde by the German director Werner

Herog

Burton A Mission o Gele/e, pp 347 348

5 Ibid pp 235-36.

6 Jean Piya ahomey Issy-esMoulineau

Cassiques Aricains 95, pp. 228

The Republic o Benin shoud not be conused

with the modern igerian city o Benin or

with the historica kingdom o Benin, situated in

present-day igeria and also renowned or its

artparticularly its brones

mpig rll for

Nicephor Soglo h

r lc pri

of h Rpblic of

Bi i h qr

i fro of h

mm. h pr

hig h crr

crmo il kigAgoliAgbo ll br

h mblm of h

Dhom morch

who prc h im

Ptgap by

ranesa Pqu 1996

19931997 Conevationof bareef at Aoey in a co

aorative poect of the Getty

Conevatio Intitute and the

Repbic of Beni

1997 "Past, Present and Future of the Royal Palaces and Sit

of Aomey," a cof eence sponsored by the Getty Conservaio

Inttte the ternatioa Center fo the Sdy of the

Presevation and Restoration of Cultual Popety (IOM). a

the Repubic of Benn i hed in Aboey.



6 W A R R I R K I N

arno

Kiru

________

Pvos pg Txl

pplqe wh symbols

of h wlv gs

dolly cowl

dgd o hv ld

Dhomy

Poogap

Ssa Mileo 1997

Like the ph araoh s of Egypt or the great k ing s of Persia

the mona rchs of Dahomey formed the epi center of al l spher

of the kingdom's lifepolitical social religious and mili

tary A Daho mea n ki ng wa s venerated a s the

(master and possessor of all riches) the (master

of the world) and the (emi nent ma ster of the earth

Upon assuming the throne each monarch took on the

obligation to leave behind more territory than he inherite

The Da homea n m ona rchy therefore waged a n on goi ng

series of wars of conq uest that by th e early n i neteenth ce

tury had made Dahomey one of the most powerful kingdom

in Africa.

To help ensure the monarchy's long-term stability

the transition between one king and the next was aided by

a unique system of rules governing succession Under this

principle known as vx. the aging monarch selected

from among his sons the one best suited to rule subject

to approval by royal ministers and diviners When a princ

was enthroned he would select a "name motto"a slogan

that expressed such attributes as strength wisdom and

cunningas well as a royal name or "strong name" He

would al so adopt a n um ber of embl ems or symbols which

served to promote his strong name and motto warn his

enem ies an d riva ls commemorate his conq uests a nd In

general publicize an aura of charismatic royal power

These symbols were depicted on bas-reliefs and on

colorful ba nners and app li qu6s which duri ng the great

annual festivities known as the "Customs decorated

the palace courtyards



W A R R I R K I N G S

Gangniessu reigned ca. 160 0

SMBOLSA male gangnhessou id a drum a w-

ing r uning sick

MOTTOJ am the bggest brd and the loudest drum.

You an't keep the brd from sngng, you

an't keep the drum from beatng

Gangniessus m nwisanding is

yunge re Dak usuped e rne

-"

E Dak reigned ca 160; yunger

re f Gangniessu

SMBOLSAn indig jar a inderx a war clu

MOTO

"Dako klls Konou as easly as breakng an

ndgo jar

Tis m is a reference an indig

plane wm Dak killed

•

-

'/ 1 I • �

I Huegbadja reigned ca 16585;

sn f Gangniessu nepew f Dak

SMBOLSA s a s ap a war clu e

MOTTO"The sh who has esaped the net wont

go bak n t

Huegadjas accessin e rne

was seen as a reailiain f is faer

uegadja is cnsidered e funde f

e Damey dynasy e esalised e

capial in Amey wee e ui a new

palace iniiaed a sysem f laws esa

lised a ureaucracy pesided ver rei-

gius ceemnies and creaed a pweful

piical culure His m expresses e

kings wisdm in refusing e caug in

aps laid y is enemies

Akaba reigned 16851708; sn f

Huegadja and Nan Adnn

SMBOSA warg a swrd e weapn Akaa

used eead is enemies

MOTO"When the warthog looks up at the sky,

t gets ts throat slt



28

SYOLA camelen

NA OTO

"Slowly patietly te ameleo reaes tetop o te Kapok tree.

Te cameen wc canges cr

end n wi is envirnmen exemplies

e paience and pracical skll Akaa

demnsraed in calmly waiing unil e

advanced age f au sxy ascend

e rne. Te warg emlem suggess

e imprance f paying clse aenn

affairs f e kingdm: disracn can

ring disaser

Agaja regned 170832 sn f

Huegadja and Nan Adnn

SYBOL

urpean caravel a

NA OTO

"No oe a set re to a large tree tat as

alle wole wit its braes (rst it must

be ut).

Knwn as e Grea Warr r Agaja ruled

ver e perid f larges expansin n

ameys sry. Hs annexan f e

negring Xweda kngdm exendedamey's rders e sea and alwed

amey dea direcy w urpean

raders. He frmed an ele crps f wmen

warrrs an innvain a ecame a

lngsandng dynasic radiinand was

e rs king ave cnac wi ur

peansence is syml f a urpean

a Agaja's m expresses e mpr

ance f sreng and uniy.

W A R R R N

Tegbessu ( reigned 17327 sn f Agaj

and Nan Huanjie

SYOLA uffal wearng a unc

OTO"Notig a ore te bualo to take o

is tuiSYOLSA lunderuss (e rs rearm a e

amey rya army used ; a dr dec

raed wi ree nseless eads

NAE OTO"Te may grasses ad leaves tat oer t

groud do ot keep te small gsu pla

rom growig

Wen sll a prince Tegessu was sen

resde in e Oy kingdm as par

f e riue amey ad pay s rv

sae. He aer reurned is meand,

were e was seeced e e nex ruer

Accrding cusm e kinge ad

wear s faers unic fr ne wle d

Hping make Tegessu ake ff e

unic and erefre aandn is ques

fr e rnea rival paced singing

ne le leaves in . Hwever, Tegessu ke

e unic n and ecame kng. Hs name

m remnded s sujecs a e ad

acceded e rne despie e maneu

verng f is rivas; e emlem f a dr

earng eads wiu nses evked is

vcry ver a reelus cnquered pep

wse crpses e ad muilaed.



WA R R I R N G S

Kpengla (reigned 7749; sn

Tegbessu and Nan Cai

SMBOS

An akpan bird a gun

MOTOThe agiaed akpan ike ou a he

ohe id.AME MOTOIn he wae, he one doe no feel o fea

he cold.

Kpengla sengened e amy and

engaged n many bae campagns

an aciviy evked by e bid m.

He cnqueed casa ciies, cnsldang

e kingdm's ule ve e Xweda and

fuer gening amey's grip n

e save rade. Te sne name m sug-gess a e king n mre fears is ene

mies an a sne fears cd wae wle

e gun emblem refers e fac a n-

lck rearms became sandard issue in e

amean amy during Kpengas regn.

Agngl (reigned 17997; sn f Kpengla

and Nan Senume

SMBOL

A pineapple plan

AME MOTOLighning ike he palm ee u neve he

pineapple plan, which i cloe o he eah

Agngl is remembeed as a grea refrme.He rescinded axes a ad paalyzed

e pr f Ouida uawed e wden

gag a ad been used n cndemned

pisnes keep em m calng dwn

curses n e kingdm and enanced e

vudu cul by insuing a rie knwn as

madnu, wic became e dynasys

specic cul. Agngl as pened s king-

dm Cisian and Musim missinaries

and was e rs amean ruler ake a

urpean wman as ne f is wves. His

symb and name m refe e kng's

success n surviving is enemies nrigues

and aemp j us s peaceful ways in

e eyes f se w prefered a me

milay ruer.

• Adandan (eigned 7971 eldes sn

Agng

SMBOA large paras

NAM MOTTOThe king ovehadow hi enemie.

Cnsdeed by sme ave usuped e

rne rm is bre, Adandzan is

a igy cnvesial gure ung is

regn e red iniiae vaius unppu-

la canges reducng e pwer f e

piess and appareny exending savery

and riual uman sacice includemembers f e amey nble classes.

He was verrwn n a palace cup and

paced unde ares. Adandzan cninued

be gly regaded e ulived is



30

successr and wen e ded in 61, was

uried discreely w ful rya nrs

His name wever as since disappeared

frm e ra radiin and was remvedfrm e dynasic lis. Adandzans emem

erefre des n appear n e applqu

n pages 2425.

Guezo reigned 1 5; sn f Agng

and Nan Agnm)

SYMBOLA jar p ierced wi es eld alf y

w ands

MOTTO

"Our freedom an be ompared o a jar

wih many holes whih anno hold waer

If eah one of you he sons of his naion,an pu your nger in one hole he jar will

hold waer

SYMBOA uffal

MOTTO

"The powerful bualo rosses he ounry

and nohing an sop or onfron i

AME MOTTO

"The red feahers of he ardinal may looklike re, bu i anno se re o he bush

Fllwing e unprecedened cup a

rug im e rne Guez wrked

uni is kngdm. Regarded as a ski

fu dplma e was ale recncil e e

friends and fes f Adandzan e als

W A R R I R K I N

srengened e army and nally lera

amey frm e pwerful neigring

Oy kngdm. Guez s celeraed as n

f ameys greaes rulers. e ja remlem and i s accmpanyng m

remnded is sujecs f e imprance

nainal uny e jar s nw e nana

syml f Benn

Gh�h� regned 159; sn f Guez and

Nan Zgnd)

SYMBOLA ln

MOTTO

"The lion ub srikes error in his enemies

as soon as his eeh have grown

SYMBOe riual knfe f Gu gd f war

MOTTO"The knife of Gu punishes rebels

NAM MOTTO

"The man is srehed ou a full lengh, an

his enemies anno lif him

A e end f Guezs regn supprers

Adandzana numer f wm reman

n Ameyse re e palace reasur

uses pres Gls ascen erne Frm e eginning f s reign

erefre Gll faced inerna as well as

exerna ppsiin wc e sug

diffuse rug ese symls and m

Gll wuld g n cnsldae ame

supremacy in e regin y eading mre



W A R R I R K I N G S

an ry war campaigns; n addn e

deveped suc culural pracces as musc

dance and riua ceremnes. Gll ecame

renwned in urpe as ne f e greaAfrican kngs. He ress ed urpean an

slavery effrs u was evenualy frced

aandn cmmercal slave rading

nevereess e cninued use saves

n s elds and as uman sacrces w

carred messages e ancesrs His

name m evkes e vaues f paence

and ard wrk.

m Beanzin regned 1 9 94; sn f Gl

and Nan Zevn)

SYBOLAn egg

NAE OTOThe world hold the egg that the earth dere.

SYBOA sark

OTTO" am the hark: wll not relnquh an nch

of my kngdom.

ameys las ndependen ruler is cele

raed as a grea ressance ger w

red save is kingdm frm Frenc cl

nzers. Beanzn was unale ve up is

m wever and naly urned e

Amey rya palaces raer an see em

fal in Frenc ands. His farewell address

is sldiers efre e wen n Frenc

impsed exie s cnsidered ne f e ms

impran speeces in e isry f e Fn

peple day e address s aug

Benins sclcidren Beanzin ded n

exie in Agera n 90 6; in 192 e was

reured n is meand

Agoli-Agbo I regned 194900 ; sn

f G and Nan KannanyiSYBOLA f ripping ver a rck

NA OTTOBeware! The royal Dahomean dynaty ha

tumbled but ha not fallen

SYBOLA rm

OTO

The kng lke a broom that wee uh eneme

SYBOLA w

Te Frenc insalled AglAg I n e

rne s m sug prme a

sense f dynasc cninuiy Te w sym-

l signed a Frencmpsed reurn

essdangerus radiina weapnsas

ppsed e cnsiderale sck f re-

arms a earlier kngs ad accumuaed yrading slaves. One f AgliAgs greaes

prres was e recnsrucn f e

Amey ryal palaces. Under Frenc rue

wever e mnarcy was sripped f s

pwer and AgiAg I was unae gv

ern successfuly. Wen e refused ac as a

Frenc pawn e was exiled and e Frenc

frmally alsed ryaly in amey.



The Abomey Royal Palaces

The royal palaces of Abomey were

slowly fashoned over the course

of two an d a h alf centu ries, begin

nng wth Kng Houegbadja-who

fou nded the cty n 1 645 - a nd

contnung wth each successve

ruler, who added hs own buld

ngs to those of hs predecessors

The rg ht to rase structuresof mo re tha n o ne story belong ed

exclusvely to royalty, and the

palaces' red earthen walls rose

a bove the su rro u nding l ow-s l u ng

dwellngs of the kng's subjects.

The mposng heght-up to tenmeters-of even t he e ar lest

palaces emboded the dynasty's

power and prestge; soon the

palace complex came to symbolz

for Dahomeans the concept of

kn gs hp tself.mo i fo of

GWes all

usom of posig

bfo ig bg

uig rig of

Hougb

Phoogph y

ee Ra ne 997



A B M E Y R YA P A A S

Since the kingdm's grw was

due large y a cminain rickery

and armed cnques is rulers emained

keenly aware f eir need fr precin

frm se w wud verrw emN suprisingly erefre e rs palaces

were ereced defend e king and is

cur agains eir enemies A successin

mnarcs seled eir cusins and er

reaives in e zne arund e palaces

in an aemp prvide an addiinal

securiy uffer eween e uside wrld

and e inner sancums

n addiin afrding precin

e palaces ullled a range f er func-

ins: rya residence cener pliicallife sea f gvernmen and sie f e

kingdms ms impran sae funcins

Here fr example e kings sujecs wud

cme sici an audience wi eir

ruler. Here e king wuld dispense jus ice

And ere e mnarc wuld preside

ve e Annual Cusms ceremnies.

By e secnd af f e nineeen

cenury e Amey paace cmpund ad

grwn in a sprawing cmpex earen

uildings using several usand peple

Dil of wll of

ig Go s plc

Pgraper unknwn

ca 190 Te Merpan

Museum fAr New Yrk.

Deparmen f e Ars f

Afra Oceana, and e

Amercas Te P Sudy

lecn

Ariss rrig

of h xrior of ig

GWes plc s

i ppr i 56rm Sr Rca rd Burn,

Missio o Gelele io Doe (164; reprn,

an nrducn an d

nes by W Newbury,Ldn: Ru ledge and

Kegan a 1966 Used by

permissn



B (m

m f .

e

C c

Cl

=

�

E f

S

�

]a

�

P of Abomey,

A. Brig ow g from .

B. Mi qr.

c orr of kig plc wih room for

ofcil rcpio.

Scricil h.

E G o k ig plc.

G. H of h Amo.

K Dich wll ro h ow.

P Sqr whr mrk wr hl.

R. M of ml l r bw compo wll.

S iv h .

T Ro o pric ho.

v Ro from o Abom.

From Burton, isson to Geele 1864; reprnt, wth an intro

ducton and note y . Newury ondon Routedge and

Kegan Pa 966) Ud y permon

T A B M Y R YA A A C

hs gowth mirrored the ingdoms

exnson; s ech ng fllled his ledg

to leve behind more lnd thn he nher-

ited, the comond grew ever lrgeThogh nmbe of wves wold scic

themselves to ccomny the decesed i

on hs j oney to the next wod, othes

wold often contine to live in the lce

fte his deth, commemotng their te

hsbnd thogh ncestorclt ceemonie

One obsever described the oyl

cort of the mi d100 s s " ingdom

withn ingdom eviy fortied nd

zeosly gded by the monrch's elite

grdsinclding the Amzon wrrorsthe comond ws indeed world nto

itself wod to which, ong with the

extended roy fmiy, only nobles, cote

sns, nd orite servnts enjoyed

ight of entry. Lves were governed by eb

orte rotocol Only cetn membes of

the oyl etine were ermitted to dde

the ing Qeens nd rincesses were not

llowed to ventre ngded beyond the

ce wlls, nd commoners cold enter

the comlex only rrey, notbly drng thgret nnl celebrtions, thogh even

then most es emined offlimts.

The divese fnctons of the royl

comond detemined both the rchtec-

tre nd the rrngement of lce bild-

ings. Ech ings ce comised

lbyinth of bdings goed rond

sevel cortyrdstyicly, the kpodoj

cortyrd nd its bidings, the ajalala-

hennu cotyrd nd ts bildings, nd

the honga.

The odoji cotyrd, gtheing

lce where the ng nd hs cort listene

to songs nd wtched scred dnces, ws

slly lned by thee bildings the

logodo where the concl met to discss

dyto dy mtters; the lgdxo which



hosed the gds nd the sinonxo whichwee the living qtes fo the incesses

in chge of the ncestos clt ome kings

constcted foth ilding, the jononho

whee they eceved foeign visi tos

he jllhenn cotyd, with

its monments nd lts o oengs,

ws eseved fo oml ecetons nd fo

ncesto woshi Aond t wee yed

the nci oy tments The gest ,

the mtotl "hl of mny oenngs

(jll) , conssted of edoom t ech

end one fo the kng, the othe o

womn in chge o wtchng ove the

cotydnd get eceton h

n etween The ck doos o the l

led to the oy dwelling, the hong, to

which the king dmtted ony hs fvoite

Th jll of

Kn Go

Photograph by F Gadme

190. oues Muse

Albert-KahnDparteme

des Hauts-de-ene Fan



rmny i n frn

f h aalala f

Kin Gele

Phoograperdae

unknown

wives d chidre, hs helers, hs ve

prcipl misters, d his desigted heir

log ope gllery ied thels m fcde cretg port ico

th sped the legth of the strctre

eted otdoors i he jlhe cort

yrd he kg presided over ethroemet

ceremoes d rites held to hoor the

royl ded. hese festvs becme mpor

t occs ios for dspyig the kig

doms rt sic weh d reiforcig

the po plr percepto of he morchs

power Drg performces, the rge

ope cort ws ed to cpcity while

the jl provided vibr ckdrop:

rightly colored texile ppiqs were

drped everywhere complemetig he

bs relefs dorig the fcde. Both

pplqs d bs reliefs d spyed roy

emblems d imgery tht ist rted he

r dces d storytellig

hroghot he compex, form

etries lered pssge betwee bidgs

d cortyrds. The plces so hrboredsecre etries, cled onli whch the kig

sed whe he emrked o cldestie

eveig otig or eeded otrsive

rote to sfey. Oher doors liked he

vros ier secios o f ech plce.

ddiio sml doors shetered by over

hgig grss r oofs coected the vri

os kigs compexes thereby symbolizi

the ik betwee he dystys rer s

Whe Behzi set re to he roy

compod rther h let it fl ito the

hds of Frech cooizers the lmes co

smed t es the thtch roofs of my o

he plces. Left proeced the erthe

bildigs sffered hevy dmge drig th

ry sesos i folowig yers; evet

the ildigs fell to decy Drig both

the rech cool period d he period



T H E A B M Y R Y A L A A C E S

o f Benn ndeendence that followed,

he bldngs wee altenaely neglected,

demolshed, esoed, moded, o ebl

deendng on the evalng oltcal andeconomc condtons

Of the hectaes (1 90 aces og

nally fomng the oyal comond, only

the alaces of Gezo and Gll, whch now

hose he Hstoc Msem of Abomey,

have been mantaned Restoaton of the

bldngs was s attemed by Behanzns

halfbothe, AgolAgbo I , aaently soon

afe Dahomey fell o he F ench Afte he

was exled n 1900 howeve, the comond

agan fell nto n Today, t s no cleahow mch of the alaces wee destoyed n

the e se by Behanzn and econstcted

ealy on, and hee ae many qestons

egadng the dates of ogn of he svv-

ng baselefs. ome o all may have been

Bas-rlis aorning

h aalala o Cele

h op pair pic

wapons; a al

scn an wo o

h kings smolic

animalsh horn

ill an h lion

ar also shown.Ptgrap b Eva

Meerwitz 937 Neg n

J97-0909 frame 4·Eit lisfn Ptgap

Acives, Natinal Museu

fAfican Art mitsni

Institutin Wasingtn



4

h aalala o King

Gzo a w yas

a h palac s

howing cml

wall

Phoogaphe unknown,

a 900 he Meopoan

Mueum ofA New Yok.

Depamen of he As of

Afica Oceana and he

Ameas he Phoo Sud

oecon.

-�

T A B M Y R YA L A L A

\

eodced fte he French conqest

According o the Frenchmn Ren Leeriss however who visied the site

he beginning of the cenry the jl of

King Gll ws mong the srviving bid

ings; its b seliefs re therefore thoght

to be mong the odest extn originls.

he rst F rench effor o resore

Gls lce seems to hve been nder

ten rior to 19 by colonil dminis

ro E Chdoin who hd rst "visied

the lce in 90 s Behnzins isone.

hotogrhs o f the lces ten in 19

by E. G. Wterlo French ofci cerly

show steeit ched wideeved thch

roofs in he trditionl style. A 1930 hoto

grh by French hotogrher indictes

tht the wooden osts holding the

thtch roofs hd been removed ossiby

ding lter resotion cried ot by



As h palac com

po n vlop ovr

h rigns o sccssiv

kings h corars

wr link b small

oorwas

Phoogah b

an iddeon 997

n aiion o h pr

cipal palacs h ro

amilis bil palac

o lssr imporanc

in o ling aras Th

crown princs liv

in hs rsincs

bor sccing o

h hron

Phoogah b a Fenh m

a doo who foowed

the colonia amy, ca. 1893

Courtesy Getty Reearch

Inttute, Research Libay

94.R·56



oscr showing

King Gzos plc

wih i s wi-v

hch roo

Photogh fom

E Wae/ 1926

.

.

�

_

A

.

. :, '

the rench colonl governor; even so, he

thtch roos remnedDring he 930, he htch roo fs

were relced wih corrgted metl roof

wih mch shorer overhnging eves Th

chnge hd dire conseqences or he ex

ror wlls nd their scled decortions,

which were no longer rotected from dire

exosre to the elements The most sever

roblems occrred in he lower res r

ticry n he bs relies loced t he

bse o the wlls. On the ll o Gll

hese inclded row of lions he emble

of he ng.

In he ery 1940 he Instt

rn�is de Afriqe Nore restored the

bildngs of Gezo nd Gl. When

he comex ws oened to he blc s

the Mse storiqe d Abomey (istor

Msem o Abomey) n 1945, he resored



T A B M Y R Y A L A L A S

histoic ildings hosed the msem,

which exhiited resres fom he kingdom In 1 960 following indeendence fom

rnce, the Relic of Dhomey received

its st Unesco fnds for wok on he

lce comond evel other Unesco

missions followed Modicions, incld

ing he reinting of some sreiefs wee

crried ot dring this eriod In 192,

Beni n tied the Wod Heitge Conven

tion nd he Royl ces o f Aomey were

inclded s clr site on he Unesco

World Herige List; hee yers er hey

were dded to the List of Wod Heritge

ites in Dnge

By he lte 90s, sever idings

within he msem recinct s fo ex

me, those of King Gezo hd lredy

een comleey enoved Glls l

remined one of he ony intct originl

Th nr iling

o h plc o GW

l n G zo r

righ n Singoi

Sqr.

Photogrh b Gdmer

3 ortes se

Abert-hnDrteme

des Hts-de-Seine n



4

h aalala o We,

wh h as-rls

n hr orgnal pos

ons or hr

rmoal an ss

qn consraon

Phoogah b

zanne Peson Bie, 198

T H E A B M Y R Y A L A L A

strctres with origin bs relies rob-

by dtng to the ime o the Dhomenmonrchy. For strctr resons in

19 he msem deermned tht Gls

jl shod be reblt decson n

eeing with he hisoricl rc ice o ren

ovtng ce bldngs n the comond

Recognzng he hsto rcl vle

o the bsrelies the msem soght he

dvice o n rchitect woring or the

Germn embssy n Benn, who sggested

detchng them rom the cde beore

the bildng ws reconsrcted oen

tly risy ndertng The b s relies

were c rom the wlls nd remonted

indivdl nes n hev csings o ert

strenghened with cement. These were s

orted by wooden rmes nd stored

rght n the msem.



T H A B M Y R Y A A L A S

The l o f King Gll ws rebl

ot of stblized erth oc erth mixed

wih smll mont of cement to ensre

sbi iy nd ongevty. Wong closelyfom the orignl s, Bennois tists fsh

oned new set o f eic bsreliefs so

of sbiized erth nd modern mter is

were sed o in them The blding ws

comleed in 1996 . Along with the estoed

lce of Gezo, it hoses he istoric

Msem of Abomey Of the ftysx bs

eliefs ogny on Gs jll fty

were sved A selecton of these i s dslyed

in the msems collecton

Gzo palac cor

ar an h ril

palac i ling

Pooga by

anesa Pq 995

Palace Sculptures of Abomey History Told on Walls 7-45 p. Getty Conservation Institute

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Transcript of Palace Sculptures of Abomey History Told on Walls 7-45 p. Getty Conservation Institute