Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia / An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia

by R. N. Hall

CHAPTER XIII
THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE
(Continued)

The Platform—Enclosures Nos. 9 to 15—Central area—Platform area—Inner Parallel Passage—South Passage—West Passage—North-East Passage—Outer Parallel Passage.

8a. THE PLATFORM

THIS is a raised platform standing immediately in front of the Conical Tower at a distance of 4 ft. from north to north-west. The proximity of this structure to the Conical Tower, its position in front of it, its summit commanding a view of the interior of the temple, particularly of the interior of the Sacred Enclosure, its peculiar form as compared with other structures in the temple, and the excellent workmanship displayed in its walls, as well as the decoration of green chlorite schist on its east wall, would appear to show that it possessed some highly important significance in the minds of the ancient worshippers. So much is this so that visitors most frequently remark that this structure must have been the “pulpit” from which the priests addressed the crowd of worshippers.

The Platform possesses no angular feature. Its plan is oval, the entrance is rounded, and the curves of the walls are excellently worked out. The southern and eastern half of this building now only remains intact, the northern half, though still traceable, having been pushed over northwards by a huge tree.

The inside area of the southern half is 14 ft. from north to south, and 16 ft. from east to west. The heights of its sides are as follows: east side, 9 ft. from granite cement step on floor of No. 11 Enclosure; west side, 10 ft. above floor of No. 9 Enclosure, including 3 ft. height of terraced wall; south side, 12 ft. above floor of Sacred Enclosure (west), and 11 ft. from top of “blind steps” in the same enclosure; the north side is ruined. The wall on its present summit is from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. wide.

On the inside, and at a height of from 2 ft. to 4 ft. below the summit of the wall, is a raised platform 2 ft. wide running round the inside of the wall. This platform, which, in fact, is banquette work, is paved with stones, and these are covered with granite cement. This banquette was approached by well steps ascending up in the centre of the interior, and these were made of blocks covered with granite cement.

The entrance to The Platform is on the north-east side, but only one side is now remaining. It is 9 ft. high and is rounded. The large upper granite cement step on the floor of No. 11 Enclosure led up to this entrance. The decorative pattern on the outer face of the north-east wall is described in the account of No. 11 Enclosure.

This Platform appears to have served an identical purpose as that of the elevated Platform at the Western Temple on the Acropolis, and as that of the Ancient Balcony which commands the interior of the Eastern Temple on Zimbabwe Hill.

Bent stated that in 1891 a tall unhewn granite monolith stood erect immediately north of The Platform, but there is no trace now of its existence, and several old residents of Victoria say it must have disappeared before they first visited the ruins.[54] The positions of all three of the platforms suggest some purpose in the ancient religious services.