The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (Statue de la Liberté), officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World, is a monument that was presented by the people of France to the United States of America in 1886 to celebrate its centennial. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans traveling by ship.The copper-clad statue, dedicated on October 28, 1886, commemorates the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and was given to the United States by France to represent the friendship between the two countries established during the American Revolution.

The classical appearance (Roman stola, sandals, facial expression) derives from Libertas, ancient Rome's goddess of freedom from slavery, oppression, and tyranny. Her raised right foot is on the move. This symbol of Liberty and Freedom is not standing still or at attention in the harbor, it is moving forward, as her left foot tramples broken shackles at her feet, in symbolism of the United States' wish to be free from oppression and tyranny. Since the 1940s, it has been claimed that the seven spikes on the crown epitomize the Seven Seas and seven continents.Her torch signifies enlightenment. The tablet in her hand represents knowledge and shows the date of the United States Declaration of Independence, in roman numerals, July IV, MDCCLXXVI. The general appearance of the statue’s head approximates the Roman Sun-god Apollo or the Greek Sun-god Helios as preserved on an ancient marble tablet - Apollo was represented as a solar deity, dressed in a similar robe and having on its head a "radiate crown" with the seven spiked rays of the Helios-Apollo's sun rays, like the Statue's nimbus or halo. The ancient Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was a statue of Helios with a radiate crown. The Colossus is referred to in the 1883 sonnet The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. Lazarus' poem was later engraved on a bronze plaque and mounted inside the Statue of Liberty in 1903.

In the midst of history, by G-d, let there be nonsense!!!

Mims, notice the little tour guides...I can already hear them say:

"Statue of Liberty is a gift from French giveners, for naked women everywhere!!!"

hahahaha...sorry couldn't resist!

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The interior of the pedestal contains a bronze plaque inscribed with the sonnet "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus. It has never been engraved on the exterior of the pedestal.

Just having fun...

...At the steps of the Statue

Pablo & NYC

Posing with NYC

DASHING, don't you think?

Being a Fool

Awed by it's heightness

Bored

Trying to get him up, he was starving by this time...

This photo was taken on our ferry trip back to Manhattan. It looked so beautiful. I can imagine in the past what it must have felt like to arrive by ship after long exhausting trips and see the monument and remember its meaning. Out of these 6 possible options:
1) as a monument to political cooperation between France and
the United States;

2) as a monument to the end of slavery in America;

3) as a monument to American national unity;

4) as a monument to immigration and economic opportunity;

5) as a monument to political liberty and freedom around the globe;

6) as a monument to the character and resilience of New York City and its residents.

I believe #5 was probably in their minds.