Monument

A defined space to honor a person, event, or concept. The word is derived from the Latin "monere", meaning to remind. Monuments are reminders of collective values, beliefs and traditions, and often focus on the mysteries of life such as death and war and deities. Monuments that make the most lasting impressions tend to have compelling balance betwen architecture, sculpture, and location such as the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials in Washington DC.In Western history, religious expression was the first incentive for building monuments and included ziggurats, pyramids, obelisks, domes, columns and allegorical and representational sculpture. Twentieth-century monument builders sometimes depart from these traditions by using abstract sculpture, gardens, or unadorned space to encourage contemplation such as the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. Credit:Donald Martin Reynolds, "Masters of American Sculpture"