Denarius (42 BC) issued by Cassius Longinus and Lentulus Spinther, depicting the crowned head of Libertas, with a sacrificial jug and lituus on the reverse

Libertas (Latin for Liberty) was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.

Contents

Temples and derived inspirations [link]

In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status. Tiberius Gracchus ordered the construction of her first temple on Aventine Hill; census tables were stored inside the temple's atrium. A subsequent temple was built (58-57 B.C.) on Palatine Hill, another of the Seven hills of Rome, by Publius Clodius Pulcher. By building and consecrating the temple on the former house of then-exiled Cicero, Clodius ensured that the land was legally uninhabitable. Upon his return, Cicero successfully argued that the consecration was invalid and thus managed to reclaim the land and destroy the temple. In 46 B.C., the Roman Senate voted to build and dedicate a shrine to Libertas in recognition of Julius Caesar, but no temple was built; instead, a small statue of the goddess stood in the Roman Forum.[1]

Libertas, along with other Roman goddesses, has served as the inspiration for many modern-day symbols, including the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in the United States of America. According to the National Park Service, the Statue's Roman robe is the main feature that invokes Libertas and the symbol of Liberty from which the Statue derives its name.[2]

In addition, money throughout history has born the name or image of Libertas. Libertas was pictured on Galba's "Freedom of the People" coins during his short reign after the death of Nero.[3] The University of North Carolina records two instances of private banks in its state depicting Libertas on their banknotes;[4][5] Libertas is depicted on the 5, 10 and 20 Rappen denomination coins of Switzerland.

Symbols of Libertas [link]

Libertas is depicted on coins from several countries, such as the centime coins of the Swiss franc depicted here.

As "Miss Liberty" Libertas was depicted on the obverse (heads side) of most coinage in the USA into the twentieth century.

Libertas was associated with the pileus, commonly worn by the freed slave (emphasis added):[6]

Among the Romans the cap of felt was the emblem of liberty. When a slave obtained his freedom he had his head shaved, and wore instead of his hair an undyed pileus (πίλεον λευκόν, Diodorus Siculus Exc. Leg. 22 p625, ed. Wess.; Plaut. Amphit. I.1.306; Persius, V.82). Hence the phrase servos ad pileum vocare is a summons to liberty, by which slaves were frequently called upon to take up arms with a promise of liberty (Liv. XXIV.32). The figure of Liberty on some of the coins of Antoninus Pius, struck A.D. 145, holds this cap in the right hand.[7]

Libertas was also recognized in ancient Rome by the rod (vindicta or festuca),[6] used ceremonially in the act of Manumissio vindicta, Latin for "Freedom by the Rod" (emphasis added):

The master brought his slave before the magistratus, and stated the grounds (causa) of the intended manumission. The lictor of the magistratus laid a rod (festuca) on the head of the slave, accompanied with certain formal words, in which he declared that he was a free man ex Jure Quiritium, that is, "vindicavit in libertatem." The master in the meantime held the slave, and after he had pronounced the words "hunc hominem liberum volo," he turned him round (momento turbinis exit Marcus Dama, Persius, Sat. V.78) and let him go (emisit e manu, or misit manu, Plaut. Capt. II.3.48), whence the general name of the act of manumission. The magistratus then declared him to be free [...][8]

Personifications [link]

The fictional characters Columbia of the United States of America and Marianne of France, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and many other characters and concepts of the modern age were created as, and are seen, as embodiments of Libertas.

The Statue of Liberty in New York, United States of America
The Statue of Liberty in New York is a modern homage to the ancient concept of Libertas.


See also [link]

  • Liber
  • Liberty (goddess), the article describing conceptions of liberty as a goddess in other cultures besides Rome

References [link]

  1. ^ "Libertas". Encyclopædia Britannica online. 2008. https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1389461/Libertas. Retrieved 1 September 2008. 
  2. ^ "Robe". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/archive/stli/teachercorner/page13.html. Retrieved 2008-09-01. 
  3. ^ "Roman Coins" (PDF). https://artgallery.yale.edu/pdf/perspect/roman_coins.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-01. 
  4. ^ Howgego, C. J. (1995). Ancient history from coins. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-08993-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=RvEEynd4ZiQC&pg=PA1. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  5. ^ "Bank of Fayetteville one-dollar note, 1855". https://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/numismatics,503. Retrieved 2008-09-01. 
  6. ^ a b Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations. CCC Publishing. 2005. pp. 360–361. ISBN 1-888729-11-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=b7KbLLjzuRgC. 
  7. ^ Yates, James. Entry "Pileus" in William Smith's A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (John Murray, London, 1875).
  8. ^ Long, George. Entry "Manumission" in William Smith's A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (John Murray, London, 1875).

External links [link]

David Hackett Fischer, Liberty and freedom (2005) The many faces of Miss Liberty


https://wn.com/Libertas

Libertas (disambiguation)

Libertas was the Roman goddess of liberty, a personification of the political libertas that distinguished the free from the enslaved.

Libertas (meaning freedom in several languages) may also refer to:

  • A.C. Libertas, a Sanmarinese football club
  • P.G. Libertas, a defunct Italian football club
  • Libertas, the motto and an ancient symbol of the Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik)
  • Libertas (Norway), a libertarian organization in Norway
  • Libertas Academica, an open access journal publisher specializing in biological science and clinical medicine
  • Libertas Acate-Modica, an Italian football club based in Modica, Sicily
  • Libertas (film), a 2006 Croatian film directed by Veljko Bulajić
  • Libertas Frisonica, the absence of feudalism and serfdom in Frisia (Friesland and Groningen)
  • Libertas Institute (Utah), a think tank located in Utah
  • Libertas Livorno, an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Livorno
  • Libertas (monument), a monument to commemorate the Estonian War of Independence
  • War of Independence Victory Column

    The War of Independence Victory Column (Estonian: Vabadussõja võidusammas) is located in Freedom Square, Tallinn, Estonia. It was opened on 23 June 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence, through which the people of Estonia will be able to commemorate all those who had fought for freedom and independence. The pillar is 23.5 m high and consists of 143 glass plates. The memorial incorporates the Cross of Liberty, Estonia’s most distinguished award established in 1919.

    History

    The idea of creating a monument was conceived in 1919, before the end of the war. During the War of Independence in 1918–1920, 4,000 people were killed, and 14,000 wounded on the Estonian side. In 1936, a law was passed to establish a nationwide monument in commemoration of the war. Preparatory work was interrupted by the Second World War and subsequent Soviet occupation. After Estonia regained independence in 1991, the question of establishing a national monument for the commemoration of the War of Independence was raised again. In the spring of 2005, the Riigikogu decided that a column of victory in memory of the War would be erected at the Freedom Square in Tallinn. In 2006, a design competition for the monument received more than 40 entries. The winning entry "Libertas" was designed by Rainer Sternfeld, Andri Laidre, Kadri Kiho and Anto Savi. Celander Ehitus OÜ was selected as the prime constructor.

    Retro style

    Retro style is style that is consciously derivative or imitative of trends, music, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past, typically 15–50 years old.

    Definition

    The term rétro has been in use since the 1970s to describe on the one hand new artifacts that self-consciously refer to particular modes, motifs, techniques, and materials of the past. But on the other hand, some people (incorrectly) use the term to categorise styles that have been created in the past. Retro style refers to new things that display characteristics of the past. It is mostly the recent past that retro seeks to recapitulate, focusing on the products, fashions and artistic styles produced since the Industrial Revolution, of Modernity. The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning backwards, or in past times.

    In France, the word rétro, an abbreviation for rétrospectif gained cultural currency with reevaluations of Charles de Gaulle and France’s role in World War II. The French mode rétro of the 1970s reappraised in film and novels the conduct of French civilians during the Nazi occupation. The term rétro was soon applied to nostalgic French fashions that recalled the same period.

    Retro (EP)

    Retro was the only EP (7") by Ultravox, then Ultravox!, released on 10 February 1978. It was the last recording released by the band as Ultravox!. Also this was the last disc featuring original guitarist Stevie Shears, who left the band after its release.

    The EP featured four live tracks recorded in 1977 or early 1978, while Ultravox! were promoting one of their first two albums, Ultravox! and Ha! Ha! Ha!, both released in 1977.

    In 2006, Island Records re-released the tracks, adding them to remastered versions of Ultravox!'s albums. The tracks from side two of the EP were included on the reissue of Ultravox! and the side one tracks on the reissue of Ha! Ha! Ha!.

    Track listing

    All tracks written by Ultravox!

    A-Side

  • The Man Who Dies Every Day (Live At Huddersfield Polytechnic)
  • Young Savage (Live At The Marquee)
  • B-Side

  • The Wild, The Beautiful And The Damned (Live At The Rainbow)
  • My Sex (Live At Huddersfield Polytechnic)
  • Personnel

  • John Foxx: vocals
  • Stevie Shears: guitars
  • Chris Cross: bass guitar
  • Retro (KMFDM album)

    Retro is a KMFDM compilation album featuring a sampling of the band's more popular songs. It was initially released in 1996 as a promotional item, and released for sale to the public in 1998.

    Track listing

    References

    Podcasts:

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