Oct. 28, 1886 : The Statue of Liberty is Inaugurated
The Statue of Liberty stands as one of the most iconic symbols of freedom and democracy. Its history begins in the 19th century with the French historian and political intellectual Édouard René de Laboulaye, a staunch advocate for American democracy. In 1865, Laboulaye proposed the idea of creating a monumental gift to the United States from the people of France as a tribute to freedom, to celebrate American independence, and to honor the end of slavery with the 1865 passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.
Laboulaye’s idea found support in Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a young French sculptor known for his monumental works and fascination with large-scale projects. Bartholdi envisioned a colossal statue, named La Liberté éclairant le monde, or Liberty Enlightening the World. However, it would take years before the project saw any physical progress due to funding challenges and political delays in both France and the United States.
The Design and Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty
Bartholdi wanted the statue to represent freedom and the universal aspiration for liberty. He drew from various sources in his design, ultimately creating a figure clad in classical drapery, which he modeled after ancient Greco-Roman goddesses who symbolized freedom and democracy.
Lady Liberty is often associated with Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty, but most people don’t realize that Libertas, like all Roman gods, has a Greek name also: Eleutheria, the Greek goddess of freedom. Her appearance, as a robed female figure with a torch and a crown of rays, evokes classical imagery with symbolic ties to ancient Greek and Roman deities, and especially to the Greek concept of Eleutheria, or freedom.
Construction and Assembly of the Statue of Liberty
Constructing the Statue of Liberty was a monumental task. Bartholdi chose to use copper as the primary material, giving the statue its eventual green patina as it oxidized. The statue was assembled piece by piece, with its frame engineered by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who would later design the Eiffel Tower. Eiffel’s structure was essential to supporting the massive copper sheets and ensuring stability against the winds over New York Harbor.
The work continued for nearly a decade, with the head and torch displayed in Paris as a public attraction to raise funds. Meanwhile, in America, Joseph Pulitzer, a prominent newspaper publisher, ran a campaign urging Americans to contribute to the pedestal’s construction, leading to widespread public support.
In 1886, the Statue of Liberty was finally completed and dedicated in a grand ceremony attended by American and French dignitaries, and the iconic statue was inaugurated on October 28 of that year. A fitting day for Liberty to be inaugurated, because Oct. 28 is also a significant day in Greece. Oct. 28 in Greece commemorates OHI Day (NO Day), the day in 1940 when the Greeks rejected the ultimatum given by Axis forces to surrender the country to avoid war. Greece could have surrendered like many other countries did before them, but instead they chose to defend their freedom and went to war. The result stunned the world. The Greeks delivered the first Allied victory against Axis forces in WWII, which was very significant after the continuous losses up to that point. This inspired the Allies to believe that victory was possible.
The Greek Goddess Eleutheria and Her Role in Greek Culture
The concept of eleutheria, or freedom, was sacred to the ancient Greeks, and they embodied this ideal in the personification of the goddess Eleutheria. She was not widely depicted in myth or given an extensive narrative, but her significance lay in the cultural ideals she represented. Eleutheria symbolized the state of being free, a cherished condition particularly relevant in the democratic city-states like Athens. Greeks considered freedom as a fundamental virtue, essential to their political and social systems, particularly in the context of the autonomy of city-states.
Artemis-Eleutheria: Artemis as a Goddess of Freedom
Interestingly, Eleutheria was sometimes an epithet for the goddess Artemis, particularly under the title Artemis Eleutheria. Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister to Apollo, was a goddess primarily associated with the wilderness, hunting, and, often, with the protection of women and children. Yet, in certain regions and contexts, she was also revered as a protector of freedom.
The Greeks often assigned multiple roles to a single deity, leading to these epithets that highlighted specific attributes relevant to different communities. In places where freedom and independence were particularly valued, Artemis’s protective and emancipatory aspects took precedence, and she was worshiped as a guardian of autonomy and independence.
This association likely stems from her role as a goddess of the untamed wild, where she roamed freely and represented self-sufficiency and independence from the constraints of civilization. Artemis-Eleutheria could thus symbolize the natural state of freedom that every being—human or animal—should enjoy, as she herself was a deity who lived and moved without restriction.
The Symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and the Legacy of Eleutheria
When viewed through the lens of Eleutheria and her association with freedom, the Statue of Liberty can be seen as a modern iteration of an ancient ideal. The Statue of Liberty echoes Eleutheria’s ethos, particularly as it stands on Liberty Island at the entrance to New York Harbor, welcoming immigrants and symbolizing hope and freedom.
The figure’s raised torch, often interpreted as “enlightening the world,” can be connected to the Greek belief in guiding others toward knowledge and liberation. Much like Eleutheria’s role in symbolizing the inherent right to autonomy and freedom, the Statue of Liberty stands as a reminder of the ideals on which America was founded—emphasizing personal freedom, individual rights, and the pursuit of happiness.
Furthermore, the idea of liberty as a goddess, rather than a man, is notable and has roots in ancient symbolism. In Greek culture, freedom, as an ideal, was often feminized, representing both the nurturing and protective aspects of liberty, while also embodying strength and resilience.
The Legacy of Eleutheria and the Universal Concept of Freedom
While the statue itself is firmly rooted in modern Western ideals, its visual connections to classical antiquity and to Eleutheria, provide a historical resonance. Eleutheria’s legacy, though not widely known, was integral to how freedom was conceptualized in ancient Greece and offers a timeless perspective on human aspirations.
Through her association with Eleutheria, Artemis, a fierce and independent goddess, represents the raw, unyielding spirit of freedom that cannot be confined or suppressed—a notion that transcends cultures and historical periods.
Ultimately, the Statue of Liberty, like Eleutheria, serves as a beacon not only for the citizens of her own land but also for those beyond her borders, echoing the message that freedom, while a right, is also a privilege to be safeguarded and cherished. And so, the ancient symbolism of Eleutheria and Artemis-Eleutheria lives on in this modern monument, an enduring symbol of freedom that continues to inspire people across the world.
Visit the Ellis Island Foundation site for more resources on the Statue of Liberty.
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