Kota Gede
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Kota Gede also known as Pasar Gede - is the site of the remains of a palace Kraton of the late 1500s and early 1600s for the rulers of Mataram. Legend and myth surround much of the information available for the time the palace was intact, and only the Kota Gede Royal Graveyard (precursor to Imogiri) and a few small sections of wall of the palace remain. In the expansion of the city of Yogyakarta in the late twentieth century, Kota Gede is merely a suburb within the city. At the time of Indonesian independence in the 1940s and after considerable publicity was given to the silver workers within this locality. The name of the location in higher more respectful level (Kromo) Javanese is Pasar Gede. The Royal Graveyard holds important graves that trace connections of Mataram with earlier kingdoms, and the placement of the graves within the covered area of the graveyard can be considered as a physical representation of silsilah or geneaology of the rulers and their progenitors. It is guarded and maintained by Juru Kunci who are employed by the two palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. In the twentieth century the location became synonymous with silver workers and traders. |
