Liberty (goddess)
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Goddesses named for and representing the concept Liberty have existed in many cultures, including classical examples dating from the Roman Empire and some national symbols such as the British "Britannia" or the Irish "Kathleen Ni Houlihan".
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[edit] Classical examples
The ancient Roman goddess Libertas was honored during the second Punic War by a temple erected on the Aventine Hill in Rome by the father of Tiberius Gracchus. A statue in her honor was also raised by Clodius on the site of Marcus Tullius Cicero's house after it had been razed. The figure also resembles Sol Invictus, the Roman god of sun.
[edit] Neoclassical references
In 1793, during the French Revolution, the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral was turned into a "Cult of Reason" and for a time "Lady Liberty" replaced the Virgin Mary on several altars.
National embodiments of Liberty include Britannia in the United Kingdom, "Liberty Enlightening the World," commonly known as the Statue of Liberty[1] in the United States of America, and Marianne in France.
Embodiments of the goddess Liberty in the United States of America include Columbia, which is yet another personification of the goddess Liberty.
[edit] Depictions
In the United States, "Liberty" is often depicted with the five-pointed American stars, usually on a raised hand. Another hand may hold a sword downward. Depictions familiar to Americans include the following:
- The monumental Statue of Liberty, which in turn has been depicted on a number of postage stamps
- Many denominations of American coinage have depicted Liberty in both bust side-view and full-figure designs; see also Seated Liberty dollar
- The flags of the States of New York and New Jersey (along with various signs and government-owned items bearing the Seal of New Jersey)
- On the dome of the U.S. Capitol as Freedom
- On the dome of the Georgia State Capitol as Miss Freedom
- On the dome of the Texas State Capitol
- On the dome of the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- On the dome of the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, New Jersey[2]
- On both Union and Confederacy flags
[edit] See also
- Columbia (name)
- Strengthen the Arm of Liberty
- Freedom Monument
- Goddess of Democracy
- Monument of Liberty (several)
- Statue of Liberty
- Seated Liberty dollar
[edit] External links
- Texas Memorial Museum
- Texas statue
- Bee county courthouse in Texas
- Another article on Beeville courthouse
- Mackinac Island Mackinac Island]
[edit] References
- ^ Also known as "Lady Liberty," or "Goddess of Liberty"
- ^ "Places We Call Home: Hackensack, N.J.". FDU Magazine. Fall 2001. http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/01fa/hack.html. Retrieved on 2008-11-04.
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