Wellington Monument, Dublin

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Often incorrectly called the Wellington Monument, the Wellington Testimonial is an obelisk located in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland. A Testimonial is erected to a living person, as Wellington was when it was put up. The testimonial is situated at the south east end of the Park, overlooking Kilmainham and the River Liffey. The structure is 62 metres (205 ft) tall, making it the largest obelisk in Europe and the second tallest in the world.

[edit] History

The Wellington Testimonial was built to commemorate the victories of the Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Wellington, also known as the 'Iron Duke' was born in Dublin. It was designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke and the foundation stone was laid in 1817. However in 1820 it ran short of its construction costs and therefore remained unfinished until the 18th June 1861 when it was open to the public. There was also plans for a statue of Wellesley on horseback but the shortage of funds ruled that out.

[edit] Features of the Testimonial

There are four bronze plaques cast from cannons captured at Waterloo - three of which has pictorial representations of his career while the fourth has an inscription. The plaques depict 'Civil and Religious Liberty' by John Hogan, 'Waterloo' by Thomas Farrell and the 'Indian Wars' by Joseph Kirk. The inscription reads:

Asia and Europe, saved by thee, proclaim

Invincible in war thy deathless name,

Now round thy brow the civic oak we twine

That every earthly glory may be thine.