This southern Nigerian city had already risen to prominence before the first visit by the Portuguese in 1485. It was probably shortly before that date that the massive series of city walls, over 100 km in total length, was constructed. Benin is best known to the outside world for the fine cire perdue bronze castings, mostly relief plaques and near life-size human heads produced there over a long period; the heads show significant stylistic development until the 19th century. It has been suggested that the origins of the Benin bronze casting tradition may be traced to Ife, but the connection is disputed.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied