Title
Commemorative head of a Queen Mother
Caption
Commemorative head of a Queen Mother / Benin Queen Idia / mother of Oba Esigie / king of Benin from the late fifteenth to the early sixteenth century / played a key role in her son's military campaigns against the Igala people / which may have been over control of the Niger waterway. Benin finally won these wars and made the Igala king a vassal of the Oba. Oba Esigie also fought an internal battle with his brother / Arhuaran / over the establishment of a capital city. Oba Esigie was based in the capital / Benin City / but Arhuaran sought to establish another large important city / Udo / as the main centre. Brass casters of Benin were taken to Udo to work until Oba Esigie won the war.
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP11A03_411
License type
Rights managed
Available size
55,0Mb (1,2Mb) / 11,7in x 18,3in / 3497 x 5497 (300dpi)