- Address: Jalan Lada, Pinangsia, Tamansari, RT.7 / RW.7, Pinangsia, RT.7 / RW.7, Pinangsia, Tamansari, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11110, Indonesia
The famous Ci Yago gun belongs to the Museum of the History of Jakarta , although it is on public display in Tamam Fatahullah Square. Famous and beloved by tourists from all over the world, it was made by the image of a woman's hand, folded into a fig. The cast sculpture of all known gestures is mounted on the back of the gun and closes the hole for the cores.
History of the gun
The Sea Iago Cannon was built by the Portuguese during the colonization of the territories of Malaysia in the sixteenth century. It was cast specially for the fort, which is located near the island of Sumatra , in Malacca . The Dutch managed to conquer the city in 1641. The captain gave the order to transfer Si Iago to the capital, Batavia (now Jakarta ). In the same year the gun was delivered and with honors installed in a new location.
The total weight of the gun is 3.5 tons, in length it reaches 3.8 meters. To produce it, 16 small guns needed to be melted in order to obtain a sufficient amount of metal. What the Portuguese meant, the cast at the end of the cannon, the image of a woman's hand, remained unknown, and the Indonesians themselves, in connection with this gesture, had born a belief that is alive to this day.
Children's Cannon
Almost all Indonesians call Si Iago a child's cannon, without relating it to its size or power, because it is a huge weapon, in the power of which it is difficult to doubt. Children call her because of the omens, which has existed here for many years. The hand, folded in a fig, according to local residents, means fertility and fertility. Indonesian women are sure that visiting a cannon can help to conceive a child faster and even get rid of infertility.
Usually it is believed that to fulfill the dream of a baby it is enough to rub the black side of the cannon, but especially persevering or desperate they climb on it alone or in pairs. On the body there are two comfortable handles, which help to hold, so as not to fall from the great height of the pedestal.
More often, walking on the area of the old city or leaving the historical museum, you can observe the accumulation of young pairs near the cannon. One of them rubs his sides, someone tries to saddle her. As the locals say, the desires conceived by Si Iago are always fulfilled.
How to get to the Sea Iago Cannon?
It is located in the old part of Jakarta , on its main square, which has survived to this day only partially.
You can reach the cannon by taxi, rented car, motorcycle or bus. By car from the center can be reached in 10 minutes. By bus, you need to drive about 15 minutes from Harmoni Central Busway to the Halte Transjakarta Kota stop.