Christ the Redeemer (statue)

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Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor) is a large statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue is 38 m (125 feet) tall and is located at the peak of the 710-m (2330-foot) Corcovado mountain, overlooking the city.

As well as being a potent symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of the city and a testament to the warmth of the Brazilian people.

1 History
2 Area
3 Complete History
4 External link

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History

The planning for the construction of the statue began in 1921, when a campaign was organized by the Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week"). Monetary contributions were donated from Brazilian Catholics. The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a Jesus statue with a globe in the hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. Eventually the statue of Christ the Redeemer with opened arms was chosen.

The workmanship was done by the Polish sculptor Paul Landowski, who used French schematics.

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Area

The statue can be accessed by road or by the Corcovado Rack Railway. From the train terminus and road, the observation deck at the foot of the statue is reached by 222 steps, or by elevators and escalators.

There is also a somewhat arduous but rewarding hiking trail to the summit from Parque Lage park in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood at the foot of the mountain.

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Complete History

XVIth Century The Portuguese named the mountain Pináculo da Tentação (The Pinnacle [peak] of Temptation), alluding to the Biblical Mountain.

XVIIth Century The Mountain is re-baptized as Corcovado, name derived from its form, which resembles a hump or hunchback.

1824 D. Pedro I personally led the first official expedition to Corcovado, resulting in the opening of an access way to the summit.

1859 Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, the Vincentian father Pedro Maria Boss struck by the beauty of Corcovado suggested the erection of a religious monument on the site to Princess Isabel.

1882 D. Pedro II grants to engineers João Teixeira Soares and Francisco Pereira Passos permission for them to develop and exploit the Corcovado Railroad.

1884 The Corcovado Railroad line between Cosme Velho and Paineiras is inaugurated, in the presence of the imperial family. On the same occasion, the Paineiras Hotel is inaugurated.

1885 The Corcovado Railroad line between Paineiras and Corcovado is inaugurated, thus completing the 3,800-meter long railroad.

Beginning 1910 decade The railroad is the first one to be electrified in Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power, a company known - as Light - concessionaire of the Corcovado Railroad since 1906 did that work.

1921 The idea of erecting the Christ, the Redeemer monument emerges - it is considered a way of marking the commemorations of the Centenary of Brazilian Independence planned for the following year. The first meeting in order to discuss the project and the site for the building of the monument is held at the Círculo Católico (Catholic Circle). The sites of Corcovado, Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) and the Hill of Santo Antônio (St.Anthony) were considered. The Corcovado has the highest pedestal and is thus chosen.

1922 A signed petition featuring more than 20 thousand names requests to President Epitácio Pessoa the permission for the erection of the statue. The foundation stone for the building of the monument on the Corcovado Mountain is laid on the 4 April 1922.

Image:Pop historia1.jpg 1923 A contest of projects for the erection of the Christ, the Redeemer monument is held. The project chosen is that by the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. In September, a national fundraising campaign for the works is organized as the Monument Week.

1926 The works for erecting the monument begin.

1931 The statue of Christ, the Redeemer is inaugurated on the 12 October. The final design of the monument was authored by the fine artist Carlos Oswald and the French Sculptor Paul Landowski was placed in charge of executing the sculpture. The monument to Christ, the Redeemer on the Corcovado mountain becomes the largest art déco sculpture in the world. Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme, the Head of the Provisional Government, Getúlio Vargas, and his whole cabinet preside over the inauguration. At the initiative of journalist Assis Chateaubriand, the Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi was invited to inaugurate the lighting of the monument, from his yacht Electra, which was at anchor in the Bay of Naples. Emitted from the yacht, the electric signal would be picked up by a receiving station installed in Dorchester, England, and retransmitted to an antenna in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, from where the lights of the Corcovado would be turned on. However, the bad weather on that day impaired the transmission and the monument was lit directly from Rio de Janeiro. On 21 October, under directions of Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme, the Archdiocesan Order of Christ, the Redeemer was established to replace the Monument Organizing Commission, having as purpose to administer and preserve it.

1932 At initiative of O Globo newspaper, the provisional lighting system which was in place since the inauguration was replaced by the final one.

1934 The Federal Government transfers the tenure of the 477 sq. m. area situated on top of the Corcovado to the Archdiocesan Order of Christ, the Redeemer.

1960 The Cardinal Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Jaime de Barros, decreed the extinction of the Archdiocesan Order of Christ, the Redeemer and its substitution by the Mitra Arquiepiscopal do Rio de Janeiro (The Mitra is in charge of administration of property of the Archdiocese).

1973 The monument to Christ, the Redeemer is listed by the Brazilian Institute of the National Historic and Artistic Heritage - IPHAN.

1980 Restoration of the monument on occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II.

1990 The monument to Christ, the Redeemer is listed by the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. An agreement is entered into by the Globo Television Network, Shell do Brasil, the Mitra Arquiepiscopal do Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA), the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Secretariat (SPHAN) and the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro to promote an ample reform in the monument. The IBAMA assumes the activities of surveillance, cleaning and conservation of the statue and its environs. The right of use of the image of Christ, the Redeemer is maintained as exclusive rights of the Mitra Arquiepiscopal do Rio de Janeiro.

2000 The Christ the Redeemer Project begins with the following actions: restoration of the monument, installing of cathodic protection, new lighting, creation of historical and tourist signposting, and the partnership for cooperation entered into by the Roberto Marinho Foundation, Banco Real ABN AMRO Bank, IBAMA, Archdiocese and the Municipality of Rio.

2001 The company Gerdau S.A. joined Christ the Redeemer Project for the works towards enlargement of the train station platform, improvement of infrastructure and setting up of elevators, metal foot bridges and escalators.

2002 The main civil engineering plans were carried out during this year.

2003 The main project having been completed, access to the belvedere was made far easier, which has led to an increase in the number of visitors to this, one of the most important beauty spots in the whole city.

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