Columbia : America’s forgotten Goddess

June 7th is National Oklahoma Day, which is an appropriate day to remember Columbia, America’s forgotten Goddess. That’s because Oklahoma is the only US State that features Columbia on their State Seal. While many US States features Greek Gods on their seal, the story of Columbia is worth telling.

In looking at the Seal of Oklahoma, you can recognize that the lady in the middle is in fact Columbia and not Themis, the Goddess of Justice, because she is wearing an American flag outfit, which is how Columbia was often depicted. They also blindfolded her and gave her the Scales of Justice as a nod to Themis, Goddess of Justice who is also commonly featured in US State Seals.

How Greek Mythology Influenced the Goddess Columbia

Columbia is a female personification of the United States, whose name derives from the explorer Christopher Columbus. She was a popular symbol of liberty, justice, and democracy in the 18th and 19th centuries, before being largely replaced by the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam. But how did Greek mythology influence the creation and depiction of this American goddess?

Columbia’s Origins

The idea of personifying a country or a continent as a female figure dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where the goddesses Europa, Asia, and Africa represented the known parts of the world. These figures were often depicted in art and literature, wearing attributes that reflected the culture and geography of their regions.

When Europeans began to explore and colonize the Americas, they also created allegorical representations of the new lands. However, these early images of America were often based on stereotypes and misconceptions about the native people and their customs. For example, America was often shown as a half-naked woman with feathers, parrots, alligators, and cannibals in the background.

As the American colonies grew and developed their own identity, they rejected these negative portrayals and sought a more dignified and patriotic symbol. Columbia emerged as a new personification of America, inspired by the classical tradition of Greece and Rome. She was named after Columbus, who was widely regarded as the discoverer of the New World, and whose name had a Latin ending that matched other continents.

Columbia’s Appearance

Columbia’s appearance was modeled after the Greek and Roman goddesses, especially goddess Athena, the patron goddess of wisdom, war, and civilization. Like them, Columbia wore a neoclassical gown and a Phrygian cap, which signified freedom and the pursuit of liberty. She also held various objects that symbolized the values and achievements of the United States, such as a sword, an olive branch, a laurel wreath, a flag, a shield, a torch, or a cornucopia.

Columbia was often depicted as a beautiful and strong woman, with auburn, brown, or black hair. She sometimes appeared alone, as a goddess-like figure, or accompanied by other allegorical characters, such as Liberty, Justice, or Uncle Sam. She also interacted with historical figures, such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Theodore Roosevelt, or represented the nation in various events, such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, or the World Wars.

Columbia’s image was widely used in political cartoons, posters, newspapers, coins, stamps, and sculptures. She also appeared in songs, poems, and stories, such as “Hail, Columbia”, the unofficial national anthem of the United States until 1931, or “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean”, a patriotic song written in 1843. She was also the inspiration for the name of many American places, objects, institutions, and companies, such as the District of Columbia, Columbia University, Columbia Pictures, or the Columbia River.

Columbia’s Legacy

Columbia’s popularity declined in the 20th century, as she faced competition from other female symbols of America, such as the Statue of Liberty, Lady Justice, or Rosie the Riveter. She also became less relevant as the United States expanded its role and influence in the world, and as the American society became more diverse and inclusive. However, she still remains a part of the American culture and history, and a reminder of the Greek and Roman heritage that shaped the nation’s ideals and aspirations.

Columbia started out as a personification of America and a symbol of liberty, based on the Greek-Roman tradition of all countries being given a Goddess to represent them. Long before Uncle Sam became the symbol of America, it was Columbia that rallied people together. Go here if you want to learn more about the Oklahoma State Seal.

Watch this video about the goddess Colombia if you want to learn more: