The country of Zimbabwe has many fascinating sights to see and places to go but perhaps the most mysterious are the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, variously translated as ‘sacred house’ or ‘seat of the king or chief’, once a huge city said by legend to be variously the home of the Queen of Sheba or the site of King Solomon's mines.
The city was believed to have been built between the twelfth and the early fourteenth century. It was 'discovered' by Portuguese traders in 1531 who, according to the Archaeological Institute of America wrote, "Among the gold mines of the inland plains between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers [there is a] … fortress built of stones of marvelous size, and there appears to be no mortar joining them …. This edifice is almost surrounded by hills, upon which are others resembling it in the fashioning of stone and the absence of mortar, and one of them is a tower more than 12 fathoms high. The natives of the country call these edifices Symbaoe, which according to their language signifies court. – Viçente Pegado, Captain, Portuguese Garrison of Sofala, 1531"
Great Zimbabwe Ruins
The ruins are in three distinct parts, the Hill Complex, the Valley Complex and the Great Enclosure. The Great Enclosure is perhaps the best preserved with an impressive conical tower that is around twenty metres high. To get into the Great Enclosure you have to walk round circular, labyrinthine passages with the huge walls pressing in on you. All the granite blocks and bricks that make up the various parts of the ruins have been put together without any mortar, showing the incredible skills of the builders, believed to have been the ancestors of the Shona people who live in that area of Zimbabwe now.
The first Europeans to investigate the site could not believe that local people could have built such an incredible site and many suggestions were put up by archaeologists that perhaps ancient Egyptians or Phoenicians had found their way to this part of Africa and created the city. It is now known that it was indeed the forefathers of the Shona people who built Great Zimbabwe.
King Solomon’s Mines?
The city was a great trading centre with gold and cattle being the main source of its wealth. It is the stories of the city’s riches that have led to the legend of it being the site of King Solomon’s mines or the home of the Queen of Sheba, neither of which appear to have any basis in fact. It is believed that at one time, there were 18,000 inhabitants. There are many theories as to what caused the decline of the city ranging from drought and climate change to a decline in gold trading but at this point no-one knows exactly why the great city was abandoned.
Zimbabwe Birds
The most fascinating find at the site were eight soapstone carvings of birds, thought to be eagles or possibly vultures, sited on the walls of the city. It is this symbol that is now seen on the flag of Zimbabwe and it is from these ruins that the country took its name when it changed from Rhodesia.
Visiting the Site
Great Zimbabwe is about 30 kilometres away from the town of Masvingo, which is approximately five hours' drive from the country’s capital, Harare. There are a number of hotels and lodges in and around Masvingo. You can also stay at the hotel situated at the site itself. There are any number of guided tours that include Great Zimbabwe in their itinerary and, with the unsettled political situation in the country, it may be wise to book one of these. At the site itself, there are trained guides who will show you round the site and explain the history and points of interest of Great Zimbabwe.
The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and is one of the great wonders of Africa.
Amanda Payne - By Amanda Payne: Topic Editor for European Affairs. Amanda is a freelance writer with a special interest in Spain and all things ...
