On the first tier you meet the Armoured Horseman by Tonetti, the type of colonizer of the 16th century.
Now look at the equestrian statues that stand on either side of the
Tower. That on the right is Cortez (by Chas. Niehaus), the conqueror of
Mexico - the man who wrested Mexico from Montezuma for the kingdom of
Spain.
On the left Pizarro (by Chas. Rumsey), the conqueror of Peru, who gained for Spain the land of the Incas.
The country north of the Panama region was conquered by the Spanish.
That on the south of Panama was also the Spanish land.
It is time now to read the inscriptions on the south side of the tower:
1501
Rodrigo de Bastides, pursuing his course beyond the West Indies, discovers Panama.
1513
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, discovers the
Pacific Ocean.
1904