Location Alameda Central park Nearest city Mexico City | Established 1911 | |
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The Benito Juárez Hemicycle is a Neoclassical monument located at the Alameda Central park in Mexico City, Mexico and commemorating the Mexican statesman Benito Juárez. The statue of Juárez is flanked by marble Doric columns. The pedestal bears the inscription "Al benemerito Benito Juárez la Patria" (Spanish: "To the meritorious Benito Juárez, the Homeland").
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History
The construction began in 1906 to mark the centennial of Juárez's birth. The engineers for the construction of the monument were assigned by Porfirio Díaz. The monument is one among several commemorating Benito Juárez across the world.
Style
It is Neoclassical style, semicircular, with strong Greek influence; it has twelve Doric columns, supporting an entablature and frieze structure of the same order. On both sides it has two golden spikes.
At the center is a sculpture composed of Benito Juarez seated with two allegories. Homeland Juarez crowning laurels in the presence of a second that represents the law in the basement has festoons, another sculpture center that chairs a republican eagle with open wings in a facing, with neoaztequistas frets, which lie two lions.
On the central pillar there is a medallion surrounded by a laurel, inscribed with the following;
"For the Meritorious Benito Juarez, the Homeland."
Social practices
The Hemicycle is a prominent point in Alameda. It has been a meeting place for the start of marches and popular rallies, including the student movement of 1968 and marches in support of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2006. For decades, the commemoration of the birth of Benito Juarez has been led by Mexican Presidents. For decades it was the destination of the gay march to Mexico City, until, in 1999 the organizing committee decided to start at the Zocalo.