The goddess origins of the Statue of Liberty and her connections with the founding and the future of America
âą Examines Lady Libertyâs ties to Native American spiritual traditions, the Earth Mother, Roman goddesses, Black Madonnas, and Mary Magdalene
âą Reveals the sharp contrast between depicting âlibertyâ as a female and the reality of women and other suppressed classes even today
âą Explains how this Goddess of the New World inspires all people toward equality, compassion, peace-keeping, and environmental stewardship
Uncovering the forgotten lineage of the Statue of Liberty, Bob Hieronimus and Laura Cortner explain how she is based on a female symbol representing America on the earliest maps of the continent in the form of a Native American âQueen.â The image of a woman symbolizing independence was embraced by the American revolutionaries to rally the populace against the King, filling the role of âFounding Motherâ and protector of the fledgling republic. Incorporating Libertas, the Roman goddess of freed slaves, with Minerva, Demeter, Justice, and the Indian Princess, Lady Liberty is seen all over the nationâs capital, and on the seals and flags of many states.
Showing how a new appreciation for the Statue of Liberty as the American goddess can serve as a unifying inspiration for activism, the authors explore how this Lady Liberty is a personification of America and its destiny. They examine multiple traditions that influenced her symbolism, from the Neolithic Earth Mother, to Mary Magdalene, Columbia, and Joan of Arc, while revealing the sharp contrast between depicting âlibertyâ as a female and the reality of women and other suppressed classes throughout history. Their study of âLiberty Enlightening the Worldâ led them to conclude that the empowerment of contemporary women is essential for achieving sustainable liberty for all.
Sounding the call for this âGoddess of the New Worldâ to inspire us all toward peacekeeping, nurturing, compassion, and environmental stewardship, the authors explain how the Statue of Liberty serves as the conscience of our nation and is a symbol of both the myths that unite us and the diversity that strengthens us.