The Benin plaque as actual document, and as cinema. Though the saying of the ancient Edo that ‘War is not beautiful’ has survived to date, the Edo Benin plaques are curiously in a contrary, even singular obsession with war and artefacts of war. In the plaque here is a narrative of the end of a successful war, with the king as warrior-king. This plaque would have been critically produced perhaps at the news of the crier/announcer, meaning ahead of the king's victorious return. The economy of Benin plaques' interest in war was largely as courtly objects -- as the beautiful depiction of events -- and how these provided livelihood for the guilds (which were not only ancient but remained within generations of artisan Edo-speaking families). More importantly however, in their proper roles as documents and documentation of history in real time, where history was about the upkeep of the mystery and power of the king (and consequently the Edo Benin themselves, since the king represe