The statue of liberty is also known as the Liberty Enlightening the World. It is a colossal neoclassical structure which is located in the New York Island near the New York Harbor in New York, United States of America. This sculpture was a gift to the people of the United States of America by the people of France and was entirely designed by the talented French sculptor named Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The metal framework of the sculptor was built by Alexander Gustave Eiffel who was a French civil engineer. The statue was originally dedicated to the people of the United States of America on 28 October 1886. There are many amazing statue of liberty facts which readers will be able to learn in this academic writing piece.
The Statue of Liberty
According to the official reports, it is stated that the statue of liberty is actually the robed figure of Libertas. Libertas is a Roman goddess which signified liberty. This figure especially became politicized during the Late Republic and has even featured on many coins and other important items throughout history. The statue of liberty actually holds a torch above her head with the help of her right hand while the left hand is used to carry a tabula ansata. This tabula ansata or tabellaansatawas one of the most favorite forms of votive tablets which were used during the period of Imperial Rome. This tabellaansata has dovetail handles and an inscription in Roman numerals. The inscription in Roman numerals is the date 4 July 1776 which is actually the date on which the U.S. Declaration of Independence is celebrated.
Apart from these symbols, there is also a broken chain and a shackle at the feet of the statue of liberty. This was done to actually commemorate the fact that slavery had recently been abolished at that time and all of this was seen as a sign of moving forward. The statue of liberty is often the first sight which immigrants get to see when they come from aboard and is widely considered to be an icon for freedom all across the United States of America. It is also a national park tourism destination in the United States of America.
The Meaning behind Some of the Important Symbols of the Statue of Liberty
It can easily be said without a doubt that the statue of liberty is a beautiful and majestic sight to behold. And since the inauguration of this statue, many individuals from all across the globe have tried to decode the meaning behind some of the most apparent and hidden symbols present on the statue of liberty. In this section, readers will be able to learn about some of the meanings behind those symbols. And the meanings of those symbols are:
The Torch Showing the Path
The most obvious sign is the torch in the right hand of the statue of liberty. This torch actually signifies liberty and enlightenment. This is also quite obvious from the official name of the statue of liberty. And that official name is ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’. Edouard Rene de Laboulaye, one of the original minds behind the creation of this statue, actually clarified that the torch is not something which sets the world ablaze but is instead the source of light which enlightens the world.
The Crown: A Sign of Divinity
There are many depictions of the Roman goddess of liberty which actually depicts her as sporting a Phrygian cap. This Phrygian cap symbolizes liberty and the spiked crown on the head of the statue of liberty also alludes to something of a halo which just sends across an image that she is divine. In terms of arts, this crown structure is called a nimbus.
Robe being the Sign of Liberty
A stola and a pella are worn by the statue of liberty which just basically means a gown and a cloak. This is also commonly seen in other depictions of this Roman goddess. Another reason why the statue is covered from head to toe is thatEdouard Rene de Laboulaye was a catholic and he proposed the idea that the entire statue should be covered.
The Spikes representing the Continents
This is one of the symbols of the statue of liberty which has been the reason for many debates. There are many experts who believe that the seven spikes coming from the crown actually signify the seven continents while there are other experts who believe that the seven spikes actually represent the seven seas of the world.
The Meaning of the Windows
There are a total of 25 windows in the crown of the statue of liberty. Many believe that these windows signify the 25 types of gemstones which are naturally found in the earth.
The Broken Shackles near the Feet
There are an axe head and a broken shackle at the feet of the statue of liberty. This actually signifies the throwing off of the tyranny and oppression. According to the National Park Service, it is said that the statue as a whole represents American independence and the end of all servitude and oppression.
Establishment of the Law by the Tablet
As mentioned above, the tablet in the hands of the statue of liberty symbolizes the date of American independence or the creation of the United States of America. Even the shape of the statue of liberty signifies cohesion.
The Longer Second Toe
If one observed minutely then it appears quite obvious that the statue of liberty actually has a longer second toe. This is seen as a nod to the heritage of that statue as during the 1920s many suffered from the ‘Greek feet’ which meant that they had a longer second toe. This condition was also known as Morton’s toe.
The Active Stride
Another interesting fact about the statue of liberty is that it has an active stride. For an acute observed the statue would not seem still but in the position of moving forward. This is seen to enhance the symbol of leading the way or lightening the path to freedom and liberty. Apart from this, there is also an aesthetic reason for the stride as it provides more grace to the overall figure.
The Power of the Pedestal
The pedestal on which the statue of liberty is placed does not have that many hidden symbols but one thing which it does signify is the power of ancient Europe. This is also supposed to be raising the overall figure of the statue of liberty. This pedestal was also designed by the architect named Richard Morris Hunt.
The Shields of the Statue
There are many shields on the statue of liberty which were intended to encircle it. These forty shields are actually representing the 40 states of the union.
The Conclusion:
There are many individuals who have tried to find that single meaning behind the statue of liberty. However, that is the wrong approach as the statue of liberty does not have a statue of liberty meaning. Instead, there are many things which it represents. And some of those things include the freedom from oppression, finding liberty, appreciating the wonders of nature, and many other things.