The Origins of Monuments

Monuments are not just buildings or landmarks that serve a utilitarian purpose. A monument is some human construction so artistically or histor cally powerful that it connects us with the past. The first monuments humans made were holding places for the dead. Early inhabitants of france built the passage grave at barnane and the tumulai of beaujon and saint michel in the mid fifth century b c e, to house their ancestors. Monuments are never neutral, but are sites of political power, spiritual authority and the identity of a people. Napoleon bonaparte recognized this when on the 20 first of july 17 98, he spoke to his soldiers in egypt,. He bid them look