Maqam Echahid

Martyrs Memorial
مقام الشهيد
Algeria
For Heroeskilled in actionduring theAlgerian war of independence
Unveiled	1982
Location	36°44′45″N3°4′11″E inAlgiers,Algeria
Designed by	Bachir Yelles,Marian Konieczny

TheMaqam Echahid(Arabic:مقام الشهيد,Maqāmu š-šahīd,Arabic pronunciation:[maqaːmuʃːahiːd],English:Martyrs' Memorial) is a concrete monument commemorating theAlgerian War.The monument was opened in 1982, on the 20th anniversary ofAlgeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves, which shelter the "Eternal Flame" under it. At the edge of each palm leaf is a statue of a soldier representing a stage of Algeria's struggle for independence.

Location

The Martyrs Memorial is located on the heights ofAlgiers,in the municipality ofEl Madania,west of the Bois des arcades, east ofDiar el Mahçouland north of the plaza shopping center Riadh El Feth. It overlooks the neighborhood of Hamma (commonBelouizdad) andBotanical Garden Hamma(known as Jardin d'essai) in the north. The monument has been erected on the site of an ancient military fort.

Description

Martyrs Memorial

Consisting of three stylized fins that join mid-height, the concrete monument built by the Canadian companyLavalin,based on a model produced in theFine Art Institute of Algiers,under the leadership ofBashir Yelles,reaches a height of 92 metres (302 ft). Above the three supporting fins, at 14 metres (47 ft) from the ground, is an Islamic style turret with a diameter of 10 metres (33 ft) and a height of 7.6 metres (25 ft), topped by a dome of 6 metres (20 ft). It rests on an esplanade that burns an "eternal flame" and includes a crypt, an amphitheater and theNational Museum of El Mujahid(underground).

Construction

Bachir Yelles the architect at the middle

The project to build a memorial in memory of the dead from the War of Independence is the brainchild of PresidentHouari Boumedienne.Its implementation was, however, completed under the presidency of his successorChadli Bendjedid.

The companyLavalinwas responsible for the studies and construction of the monument. Several Algerian artists involved, like the painterBashir Yelles,the calligrapherAbdelhamid Skanderand the Polish sculptorMarian Konieczny.

The completion of the work was a real technological challenge because of the constraints inherent to the geometry of the assembly, especially the curvature of the fins, the situation of the site at the edge of a steep cliff and high seismicity of the region. Pierre Lamarre, director of engineering and structural design, Claude Naud, expert planning and construction methods, along with Bashir Yelles, imagined a solution that proved itself decisive and innovative.

Seven months (7 months and 20 day) (November 15, 1981 to July 5, 1982) were necessary to build this architectural work. The monument was inaugurated by the then PresidentChadli Bendjedidin February 1986.

Gallery

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See also

• Algerian War
• Azadi Tower
• Pearl square
• Memorial to the Liberation of Algeria