According to BBC, the kingdom of Benin started in the 900s when the Edo individuals settled in the rainforests of West Africa. By the 1400s they had made a well off kingdom with a powerful ruler, known as the Oba. The Obas lived in palaces decorated with shining brass. Continuously, the Obas won more land and developed an empire. They additionally began exchanging with dealers from Europe and with other African kingdoms. Rather than utilizing cash they traded merchandise, for example, brass manilla bracelets, cowrie shells, guns from Europe, ivory from Benin, peppercorns from Benin and slaves from Benin ( BBC 1 ).
Plankensteiner stated that, principally made of cast bronze and cut ivory, Benin craftsmanship was delivered essentially for …show more content…
They are used as symbols to demonstrate the power of their king, the Oba. for example, crocodiles can be extremely fierce and they can kill their prey instantly. In the art and legends of Benin, the Oba was often shown as a crocodile. Like a crocodile, he could act very swiftly and put his subjects to death if they dared to disobey him. Mudfish can survive in water and on land. They swim in water and they use their fins to 'walk ' on land. The mudfish was used as a symbol for the Oba because the Oba could also survive in two places. People believed that the Oba belonged to the world of humans (represented by land) but also to the world of the gods (represented by water). The leopard was seen as the king of the animals, just like the Oba was the king of his people. The Obas of Benin kept pet leopards as a symbol of their power. Once a year, the Oba 's leopards were led through the streets in chains. This was a sign that the Oba was even more powerful than the king of beasts! The people of Benin tell a story about Oba Esigie and a fish eagle. As the Oba prepared for battle, the eagle screeched a warning that he would lose. Oba Esigie ignored the warning and won his battle, proving that Obas can overcome bad fortune! The people of Benin saw the python as the king of all the snakes, just like the Oba was the king of all the tribes. They believed that pythons were sent by the god Olokun to
Plankensteiner stated that, principally made of cast bronze and cut ivory, Benin craftsmanship was delivered essentially for …show more content…
They are used as symbols to demonstrate the power of their king, the Oba. for example, crocodiles can be extremely fierce and they can kill their prey instantly. In the art and legends of Benin, the Oba was often shown as a crocodile. Like a crocodile, he could act very swiftly and put his subjects to death if they dared to disobey him. Mudfish can survive in water and on land. They swim in water and they use their fins to 'walk ' on land. The mudfish was used as a symbol for the Oba because the Oba could also survive in two places. People believed that the Oba belonged to the world of humans (represented by land) but also to the world of the gods (represented by water). The leopard was seen as the king of the animals, just like the Oba was the king of his people. The Obas of Benin kept pet leopards as a symbol of their power. Once a year, the Oba 's leopards were led through the streets in chains. This was a sign that the Oba was even more powerful than the king of beasts! The people of Benin tell a story about Oba Esigie and a fish eagle. As the Oba prepared for battle, the eagle screeched a warning that he would lose. Oba Esigie ignored the warning and won his battle, proving that Obas can overcome bad fortune! The people of Benin saw the python as the king of all the snakes, just like the Oba was the king of all the tribes. They believed that pythons were sent by the god Olokun to