4/5 Jaroslav M. 3 years ago on Google
Originally
built
on
a
hill
named
"Vadarski
Rid"
overlooking
the
Vardar
River
was
a
memorial
complex
called
the
"Monument
to
Freedom",
at
the
center
of
which
was
a
polished
metal
abstract
sculpture
called
the
"Flower
of
Freedom".
The
purpose
of
this
monument
was
to
honor
the
people
of
this
region
who
struggled
for
freedom
throughout
history.
Built
in
1969
by
Prilep-born
Macedonian
sculptor
Jordan
Grabul,
the
central
monument
was
approached
by
a
long
set
of
stone
stairs
going
up
the
hill
which
were
flanked
on
either
side
by
three
mosaic
murals
mounted
on
concrete
walls.
The
mosaics
depicted
scenes
of
resistance
and
uprising,
with
the
two
images
above
showing
the
mosaics
honoring
the
Ilinden
Uprising
and
the
People's
Liberation
Struggle.
Crafted
in
a
monochromatic
color
scheme,
the
mosaics
depict
vibrant
stylized
figures
defined
with
thick
curving
black
lines
accented
with
splashes
of
yellow.
The
style
is
expressive
and
bright
against
the
Vardar
landscape.
However,
during
the
onset
of
the
Yugoslav
wars
and
the
fall
of
Yugoslavia,
this
complex
began
to
fall
into
disrepair
and
neglect.
Then,
the
situation
declined
further
for
the
memorial
site
when
the
decision
was
made
to
excavate
the
Bronze
Age/Roman
ruins
which
were
initially
discovered
early
on
in
the
monument's
construction.
At
this
point,
the
central
Flower
of
Freedom
monument
was
relocated
and
the
ruins
underneath
the
Vadarski
Rid
monument
site
began
to
be
excavated.
However,
through
all
of
this,
the
mosaic
walls
were
left
in
place.
They
continue
to
exist
here
up
until
present-day,
but
all
traces
indicating
their
significance
or
meaning
have
been
removed.
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