Quora underlines monuments of strange origins and designs in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Peculiar yet incredible, these monuments remind us of the earliest sites and civilizations shrouded in mystery or ravaged by time. Since devoid of life, these mysterious monuments are overshadowed by their more popular counterparts such as Angkor Wat, Moai, Stonehenge and the Forbidden City in Beijing. Their age, beauty and cultural significance garner attention from the global population, while these four monuments fade into the background. Thus, the reason for this article is to show the significance behind these monuments and their footnote in world history.
1. The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina
The Monument to the Revolution of the People of Moslavina, or simply the Monument to the Revolution, commemorates the accomplishments of the citizens of Moslavina during WWII. Located in Podgaric, Berek, Croatia, this bizarre monument was designed and established by Dušan Džamonja in 1967. Džamonja built this monument under the orders of Marshal Josip Broz Tito, who led the Yugoslav Partisans during this era. This is a reminder of the 1941 Srb Uprising in which many populations and organizations contested against genocide policies instituted by the Independent State of Croatia, a puppet state of Nazi Germany. In addition, many assert that the monument resembles the Millennium Falcon spaceship from Star Wars. Thus, this monument may have influenced one of the greatest sci-fi films.
2. The Monument to the Uprising of the People of Kordun and Banija
Like the first, this monument is a memorial to the citizens of Kordun and Banija who were involved in WWII. The Monument to the Uprising of the People of Kordun and Banija was designed by Vojin Baki and built in 1982. This monument was also commissioned by Marshal Tito as a reminder of the personal triumphs during the war. Located in Petrova Gora of Croatia, this monument has a futuristic design reminiscent of buildings in The Jetsons. This sleek, futuristic design implies that Tito sought to immortalize the Socialist Republic’s victories during the war. Judging from the surrounding area, this monument has lost its cultural significance and been left to decay. Thus, the people of Kordun and Banija are destroying a piece of their history.
3. The Stone Flower
Unlike its counterparts, the Jasenovac Memorial Area has a more tragic history. The monument immortalizes Holocaust victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp from 1941 – 1945. Handled by the Ustasha organization, the camp detained and massacred nearly 100,000 people who were mainly Jews and Serbs. This tragedy is inscribed in the minds of survivors and onlookers, but the younger generations are more than likely unaware of the horrors their predecessors suffered. Rather than fading away, this monument should remind the survivors of their liberation from the Independent State of Croatia and remind the younger generations of the sacrifices their predecessors made. Designed and built by Bogdan Bogdanovi in 1966, this structure is reminiscent of a butterfly or flower which symbolizes freedom or change.
4. The Babanj Monument or "Three Clenched Fists"
Lastly, the Babanj Monument is a memorial to the fallen Yugoslav soldiers of WWII. The Yugoslav soldiers, from the Yugoslav Partisans and Royalist Chetniks, fought against Nazi Germany and the Independent State of Croatia. The latter enforced the rules of the former and slaughtered many civilians, hunting Jews and Serbs. Approximately 10,000 hostages from Nis and South Serbia were murdered by Nazis in this area. Although the sculptor is unidentified, this monument has three structures reminiscent of fists. Thus, this symbolizes the triumph of the resistance and reminds all Eastern Europeans of their predecessors’ sacrifices. Unfortunately, the Babanj Monument is left for decay since there is graffiti located on the sides.