A statue of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro has once again found its place in the heart of Lima, Peru, more than two decades after it was taken down. The unveiling ceremony coincided with the 490th anniversary of the city’s establishment, a symbolic gesture celebrating its rich history.
History Unveiled
Pizarro, known for founding Lima in 1535 following his conquest over the Inca Empire, stands tall on horseback in the monument created by renowned American sculptor Charles Rumsey. Originally gifted by Rumsey’s widow to mark the city’s quadricentennial in 1935, the statue became a focal point of debate between those viewing Pizarro as a hero and others labeling him a brutal conqueror.
A Divisive Figure
Indigenous leaders argue that Pizarro’s legacy is tainted with bloodshed and cultural destruction, condemning him as a mass murderer who decimated their way of life. On the contrary, proponents of reinstating his statue argue that erasing such historical figures erases parts of national identity and heritage.
As controversy brewed over whether to restore or remove this symbol of colonialism, fate intervened when the statue was relocated to a park on the outskirts due to mounting pressure. Over time, neglect and exposure to passing trains led to damage on this piece that once glorified Pizarro’s triumphs.
A Symbolic Return
After meticulous restoration efforts led by Luis Bogdanovich to revive this piece of history from disrepair caused by train vibrations cracking it, Lima’s mayor Rafael López Aliaga and Madrid’s Community President Isabel Díaz Ayuso joined forces to reintroduce the bronze sculpture in Plaza de Armas square.
Díaz Ayuso emphasized during the ceremony that it marked not only the birth of a city but also an epochal encounter that reshaped global history forever. However, amidst celebratory speeches and grand gestures lay simmering dissent from Peruvians who saw this event as an affront to indigenous communities worldwide.
Voices Against Reinstatement
Protesters voiced their opposition near Plaza de Armas where they gathered against what they perceived as glorifying colonial violence. “This is an offence,” cried one demonstrator passionately echoing sentiments shared across Latin America among those who believe honoring colonizers perpetuates historical injustices.
The saga surrounding Francisco Pizarro’s statue epitomizes larger debates grappling with how societies reconcile conflicting narratives from their past—balancing reverence for historical milestones with acknowledgment of painful legacies etched into collective memories.
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