ABSTRACT
The crest of Cecil John Rhodes in South Africa House, London, and in Rhodes House, Oxford, was designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker. It shows the mountains of the moon and the source of the Nile, the Zimbabwe birds and the southern cross, and thus represents a fitting link between Egypt and South Africa. This chapter surveys some South African examples of the 'Egyptian Revival'. It indicates, for the first time, the way in which Ancient Egypt has served as a source of inspiration for South African architecture. Egyptianizing motifs occur in several buildings. The 'Gymnasium Primary' in Paarl, 50 km north of Cape Town is notable for its elaborate Egyptianizing decorations. It was opened in 1858 and proclaimed a national monument in 1968. The building is decorated with Egyptian motifs in stucco. On the central clock tower there are many Egyptian decorations: floral patterns and a winged sundisk with uraei.
