History Term 1 Unit 3: Golden rhinoceroses and other golden objects Flashcards
If gold was not mined at Mapungubwe, then where was it mined?
Further North.
What properties does gold have?
The properties of gold are:
- It is hard to get out of the ground.
- It is scarce.
- Does not rust.
- It was mixed with other metals, heated and shaped into objects.
What does scarce mean?
Scarce means hard to find.
What is a person’s status/importance?
It is how people see him/her.
What is a symbol?
A symbol stands for something else.
What is gold?
Hint: Status
Gold is a status symbol of power and importance.
a) Where were kings and members of the royal family buried?
b) and with what?
a) At the top of hill.
b) Golden objects.
What was the golden rhinoceros made of?
The golden rhinoceros was made of sheets of thinly beaten gold leaf, pinned with golden tacks to a carved wooden base in the form of a rhino.
What did the rhino symbolise and why?
The rhino is a symbol of leadership because it is fierce and likes to be left alone.
What does the horn of the rhino symbolise and why?
The horn of the rhino symbolises the role of the leader as protector of his people.
What is a sceptre and what does it symbolise?
A sceptre is a staff carried by a king as a symbol of authority.
What was the golden sceptre made of and what does it show?
Hint: Craftsmen
The sceptre was made of finely beaten gold attached to a wooden core, which shows that the craftsmen were very skilled.
What was also found at Mapungubwe Hill?
Thousands of golden beads.
Who wore golden beads?
ONLY the king and his family wore golden beads, which were their symbols of power and leadership..
Who still wears golden beads today?
The TshiVenda speaking people.
