There was a lot for Bartholdi to consider when figuring out the design for the statue. Fortunately for him, there were already a number of figures and monuments dedicated to liberty and freedom across the globe.
In the late s, one of the most significant female icons in American culture was the Roman goddess Libertas, a female figure clad in robes. In ancient Rome, she was worshipped as the goddess of freedom, particularly amongst slaves. Even in the 19th century, this figure could be found on American coins, in popular culture, and on civic art. Representations of her were commonly used symbolically by artists, so it was the perfect inspiration for Bartholdi.
Her torch was added to represent progress, giving the statue a more peaceful appearance rather than invoking violence. Read our article about the Statue of Liberty torch to learn more. A statue that was never actually built. Years before he began the Statue of Liberty, Bartholdi was hired to design a statue planned for the entrance to the Suez Canal in Egypt. His research led him to ancient giant Egyptian statues and, eventually, to the Colossus of Rhodes.
This ancient bronze statue was over feet tall and considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The figure was placed at the harbor entrance to the Greek city of Rhodes, showing the god of the sun, Helios, carrying a light to guide ships.
Sound familiar? Ultimately, this led Bartholdi to design what became an early mockup for the Statue of Liberty. Inspired by Colossus, he created a robed Middle Eastern woman, a peasant, holding up a fiery torch. This idea was eventually let go due to high expenses. He sees that her body is "straight and thin as a blade of iron.
Her hair flies wild in the wind, as if defying men to restrain it. She throws seeds to the ground as if scornfully dispensing a gift, and it seems as if the earth is "a beggar under her feet.
Her spirit is displayed in her actions as well as in her appearance. She too violates the laws and customs of her society to pursue her goals. For example, she observes Equality and thinks of him, though the state forbids a woman to take notice of men except at the Time of Mating. She walks boldly to the hedge bordering the road and looks him in the face. She smiles at him, and they speak to each other with their eyes.
She subsequently talks to him as fearlessly as he does to her. She tells him that he is not one of her brothers — as are other men — because she does not wish him to be. Later, she says she has given him a name, as he has to her. She thinks of him in her own mind as The Unconquered. Not only does she admire him for his unbroken spirit, but also in the act of forming these forbidden thoughts, she demonstrates her own unconquered soul.
She honors him for the best qualities within herself. In the end, she must choose between acceptance in her society — the only life she has ever known — and rejection, even probable death, with Equality , and she makes an unhesitating choice.
Social approval means nothing to her; her own personal values mean everything. She tells him in the forest, "We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers. The Golden One's character, like that of Equality , illustrates an important principle regarding the author's theory of human nature: independent persons form values of their own.
The Golden One does not passively accept the beliefs of society. For example, she is not an egalitarian who believes there are no distinctions to be made among persons and that each is the equal of all. She does not love her brothers and sisters equally.
Like her lover, she commits the "sin" of preference — and does so proudly. She recognizes that distinct persons are not equal in an absolute sense, and she loves Equality because his genius and proud independence cause him to stand out from the crowd.
Because she thinks for herself, she values for herself, she decides by her own thinking what she will consider important or of significant worth.
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