Cristo Rei of Dili
e then Indonesian province. (Christ the King of Dili) is a 27.0-meter-high (88.6 ft) statue of Jesus located atop a globe in Dili, East Timor. The statue was designed by Mochamad Syailillah, who is better known as Boil. The statue was officially unveiled by Soeharto in 1996 as a gift from the Indonesian Government to the people of Timor Timur.
The statue, and the globe on which it rests, are situated at the end of the Fatucama peninsula, facing out to the ocean, and can be reached by climbing some 597 steps.
Question time
- When was Cristo Rei Dili built?
This 89-foot statue of Cristo Rei was constructed in 1996 as a present from Indonesia to East Timor.
- Why was the Cristo Rei built?
The Cristo Rei statue was constructed during a deeply religious period of Portugal's history, by a population who were grateful for avoiding the horrors of the Second World War. This religious outpouring was embraced by the nationalistic dictatorship lead by António Salazar and encouraged by the church.
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