National personification

Last updated
The allegorical personification of Italy] (Italia turrita; lit. 'Turreted Italy'), goes back to ancient Rome. The woman is linked to Cybele, an Anatolian fertility goddess. Liberti Italia 1861.jpg
The allegorical personification of Italy] ( Italia turrita ; lit.'Turreted Italy'), goes back to ancient Rome. The woman is linked to Cybele, an Anatolian fertility goddess.

A national personification is an anthropomorphic personification of a state or the people(s) it inhabits. It may appear in political cartoons and propaganda. In the first personifications in the Western World, warrior deities or figures symbolizing wisdom were used (for example the goddess Athena in ancient Greece), to indicate the strength and power of the nation. Some personifications in the Western world often took the Latin name of the ancient Roman province. Examples of this type include Britannia, Germania, Hibernia, Hispania, Lusitania, Helvetia and Polonia.

Contents

Examples of personifications of the Goddess of Liberty include Marianne, the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World), and many examples of United States coinage. Another ancient model was Roma, a female deity who personified the city of Rome and her dominion over the territories of the Roman Empire. [1] Roma was probably favoured by Rome's high-status Imperial representatives abroad, rather than the Roman populace at large. In Rome, the Emperor Hadrian built and dedicated a gigantic temple to her as Roma Aeterna ("Eternal Rome"), and to Venus Felix , ("Venus the Bringer of Good Fortune"), emphasising the sacred, universal and eternal nature of the empire. [2] Examples of representations of the everyman or citizenry in addition to the nation itself are Deutscher Michel, John Bull and Uncle Sam. [3]

Italia turrita (lit.'Turreted Italy'), the allegorical personification of Italy, appears as of a young woman with her head surrounded by a mural crown completed by towers (hence turrita or "with towers" in Italian). It is often accompanied by the Stella d'Italia ('Star of Italy'), which is the oldest national symbol of Italy, since it dates back to the Graeco-Roman tradition, [4] from which the so-called Italia turrita e stellata ('turreted and starry Italy'), and by other additional attributes, the most common of which is the cornucopia. The allegorical representation with the towers, which draws its origins from ancient Rome, is typical of Italian civic heraldry, so much so that the mural crown is also the symbol of the cities of Italy. The origin of the turreted woman is linked to the figure of Cybele, a deity of fertility of Anatolian origin, in whose representations she wears a wall crown. [5] Its most classic aspect derives from the primordial myth of the Great Mediterranean Mother.

Personifications by country or territory

LocationImagePersonificationAnimal or plants used for the same purpose
Flag of Albania.svg Albania Mother Albania Tirana 2.JPG Mother Albania Double-headed eagle
Flag of the Americas.png Americas Sculpture "America" at main entrance to Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, New York, New York LCCN2010720091.tif Personification of the Americas American alligator
Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 20060128 - Mausoleo del General San Martin en la Catedral de Buenos Aires.jpg Allegory of the Republic, Gaucho
Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia Mother Armenia Statue (55651114).jpeg Mother Armenia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Anzac Bridge Aussie statue.JPG Digger

In 19th and early 20th century cartoons, Australia was sometimes personified as a young woman named 'Miss Australia'. [6]

Boxing kangaroo
Flag of Austria.svg Austria Wien 01 Austriabrunnen 07.jpg Austria Double-headed eagle
Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh kolkaataa bhaassaa shhiid minaar.jpg Bangamata [7] Bengal tiger [8]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium La-Belgique-couronnant-ses-enfants-illustres-Jamar-1854.tif La Belgique, Manneken Pis [9] [10] Brabantic Lion, Leo Belgicus
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia Borgarello - Monumento a la Pachamama.jpg Pachamama Llama
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Rodrigues-republica-mab.jpg Native Brazilian (used by the Empire of Brazil , Kingdom of Brazil and Colonial Brazil and still used by indigenous peoples)

Efígie da República (current)

Wyvern (used by the Empire of Brazil )

Rufous-bellied Thrush (official Current) Jaguar (unofficial current)

Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei Awang Budiman [11] [12]
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria Georgi-Danchov-Svobodna-Bulgaria.jpg Mother Bulgaria Double-headed eagle
Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia Preah Thong and Neang Neak
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada RCMP 1935 postcard.jpg Mountie, [13] Johnny Canuck, [14] Canada Bereft (Vimy Memorial).

Canada was often personified as a young woman in 19th and early 20th century editorial cartoons, called simply "Canada", "Miss Canada", or sometimes "Mother Canada". [15]

Canadian beaver
Flag of Chile.svg Chile Dfgsdgsdfgdsfh.jpg Huaso, Roto, Señora Juanita, Angel of Liberty [16] Condorito
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China DatongJiulongBi.jpg Chinese dragon, Panda, hare [17]
Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia Juanvaldez.png Juan Valdez
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Ferdo Quiqerez,Predzide krscanstva.jpg Mother Croatia Beech marten (kuna)
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba Larepublica.jpg La República Tocororo
Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus Nikosia BW 2023-09-21 09-52-38 v1.jpg Liberty Cypriot Mouflon [18]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechia Vaclav Maly -The National Museum in Prague 048.jpg Čechie, Czech Vašek, Honza, Svejk Czech lion
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Holger danske.jpg Holger Danske, Mother Denmark Mute swan
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic Conchoprimo.jpeg Conchoprimo
Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt Nahdet Misr.jpg Egypt's Renaissance [19] [20] Sphinx
Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador SalvadorDelMundo.jpg Salvador del Mundo Torogoz
Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia Kalevipoeg laudu kandmas, Oskar Kallis, EKM j 190-118 M 553.jpg Kalevipoeg
Flag of Europe.svg Europe Enlevement d'Europe by Noel-Nicolas Coypel (detail).jpg Europa or Europa regina
Flag of Finland.svg Finland Suomineito (1906).jpg Finnish Maiden Finnish lion
Flag of France.svg France Statue place de la Republique a Paris, 2010.jpg Marianne Gallic rooster
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia Mother Kartli drone.jpg Mother of Kartvel
Flag of Germany.svg Germany Image Germania (painting).jpg Germania, Deutscher Michel Reichsadler, Bundesadler,
Flag of Greece.svg Greece Theodoros Vryzakis, Grateful Hellas (1858).jpg Hellas
Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti Czestochowska.jpg Ezili Dantor, Le Marron Inconnu, Katrin
Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Haudenosaunee Hiawatha MET DT265619.jpg Hiawatha
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Hungaria noalak Aradon.jpg The Lady of Hungaria Turul
Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland Arnason-front.jpg The Lady of the Mountains Gyrfalcon
Flag of India.svg India Bharat Mata by Abanindranath Tagore.jpg Bharat Mata Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian Elephant, Indian peafowl
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia Statue of Goddess or Queen at Monas.JPG Ibu Pertiwi (Mother Prithvi) Garuda Pancasila
Flag of Iran.svg Iran, Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan and Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan Rostam killing the White Demon.jpg Rostam [21] [22] [23] Lion and sun
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Eire 1798 Memorial (St. Michan's Park) - panoramio (11).jpg Ériu, Banba, Fódla, Kathleen Ni Houlihan, Hibernia, The Old Woman of Beare [24] Irish Hare [25]
Flag of Israel.svg Israel Bat Zion I want your Old New Land join Jewish regiment.jpg Daughter of Zion, Srulik Lion of Judah
Flag of Italy.svg Italy Philipp Veit 006.jpg Italia turrita Italian wolf [26] [27]
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Cover of Japanese Graphic vol.32.jpg Yamato-hime, Samurai Green Pheasant
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan Sun emperor.JPG Altin Adam Tulpar
Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea (Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea and Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea - despite mutual enmity, both states lay claim to the same historical heritage) Choe Nam-seon's Korean peninsula tiger.jpg Korean Tiger
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan Manas.jpg Manas Siberian ibex
Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia 1916 Zarins Tevuzemei Gruti Laiki.jpg Latvian Maiden, Liberty
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon Cedars18(js).jpg Cedrus
Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania CollegiumNovum-HerbWielkiegoKsiestwaLitewskiego(Pogon)-POL, Krakow.jpg Vytis White Stallion
Flag of Benelux.svg Low Lands or Benelux Leo Belgicus (Dutch-Belgic Lion of the Low Countries) Famiano Strada c1647.jpg Leo Belgicus
Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia Hang Tuah, Muzium Negara - cropped.jpg Hang Tuah [29] [30] Malayan tiger [31]
Flag of Malta.svg Malta Malta 1922 One Pound.jpg Melita Dolphin
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Alegoria de la Patria Mexicana 1.jpg Mexican Motherland, La China Poblana Golden eagle, Jaguar, Chihuahueño
Flag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia Bust of Genghis Khan in Mongolia.jpg Genghis Khan Mongolian horse, Saker falcon
Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro Vlah Church 2.jpg Fairy of Lovćen, Mother Montenegro Double-headed eagle
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco BarbaryLionB1898bw.jpg Barbary lion
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Rotterdam standbeeld maagdvanholland.jpg Dutch Maiden Dutch Republic Lion, Leo Belgicus
Flag of Nepal.svg   Nepal Gurkha Soldier Monument, London - April 2008.jpg Gurkha, Sherpa Yeti [32]
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Palmerston NZ Boer War Memorial closer.jpg Zealandia [33] Kiwi
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua El Gueguense Original.jpg El Güegüense Motmot
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia Mother Macedonia - personification of Macedonia.jpg Mother Macedonia [35] [36] Lioness
Flag of Norway.svg Norway Norges Grundlov 1814 Frihed Lighed Broderskab, 1914.jpg Mother Norway, Ola & Kari Nordmann, Nór Norwegian lion
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan Shaheen falcon.jpg Shaheen falcon
Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine Handara - panoramio.jpg Handala Eagle of Saladin
Flag of Panama.svg Panama Oorkonde, RP-D-2014-5.jpg Mother of Panama Jaguar
Flag of Peru.svg Peru Patria (foto de Eugenio Courret).jpg Peruvian Motherland, El Perú Libre Vicuña
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines
RizalParkIntramurosGolfClubjf8588 13.JPG
La Madre Filipinas, Juan dela Cruz Philippine Carabao
Flag of Poland.svg Poland Polonia 2.jpg Polonia White eagle
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal Zepovinho.jpg Zé Povinho , Efígie da República, Guardian Angel of Portugal Rooster of Barcelos
Flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979).svg Rhodesia Rhodes statue Bulawayo.jpg Cecil Rhodes Sable antelope, Zimbabwe Bird
Flag of Romania.svg Romania Revolutionary Romania by C D Rosenthal.jpg România Lynx
Flag of Russia.svg Russia Thecristisrizenoldrussiancivilwarposter.jpg Mother Russia, General Winter Russian bear
Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino Pochini la repubblica 1899 by Stefano Bolognini.JPG Liberty
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia Jugoslavija na Jadranu.jpg Mother Serbia, Kosovo Maiden Serbian eagle
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore Singapore Mini Merlion.JPG Merlion
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Janosik - Wladyslaw Skoczylas (77104868) (cropped).jpg Jánošík
Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia Leopold Layer - Kralj Matjaz.jpg Kralj Matjaž
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Castle of Good Hope (11).jpg The Lady of Good Hope (Die Dame van Goeie Hoop or INkosikazi Yethemba Elihle) Springbok [38]
  • Lion (Transvaal, obsolete)
Flag of Spain.svg Spain Madrid - Biblioteca Nacional de Espana, alegoria de Hispania 1.jpg Hispania Hispanic Lion, Spanish Fighting Bull
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Matha (Mother Sri Lanka) Lion
Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname Mama Sranan Sculpture.JPG Mama Sranan (Mother Suriname), a 1965 sculpture by Jozeph Klas in the center of Paramaribo, of a mother figure holding five children representing Suriname's ethnic groups in her arms. [39]
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Moder svea berga.JPG Mother Svea (Moder Svea)
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland HELVETIA bronze statue ST KARLSHOF ZUG artist anna bang 2023 extra warm.jpg Helvetia Cow [40]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan Bravo and visitors in Yangmingshan National Park 20160124b.jpg Formosan black bear
Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand Chiang Rai (2020) Phra Siam Devadhiraj phrasyaamethwaathiraach - img 03.jpg Siam Devadhiraj White elephant
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 1933 09 09 Cumhuriyet 9 Eylul.jpg Turkish Motherland Wolf
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Turkmenistan Ashgabat IMG 5820 (25838312100).jpg Oghuz Khagan Akhal-Teke
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine Maidan nezalezhnosti. Pamiatnik Kazak Mamai - panoramio.jpg Cossack Mamay, Mother Ukraine, Berehynia Ruthenian Lion
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Britannia-Statue.jpg Britannia Bulldog
Flag of the United States.svg United States (Columbia standing on the earth, holding an American flag and trademark sign) (LOC).jpg Columbia, Lady Liberty [42] Bald Eagle, American Buffalo, Timber rattlesnake (American Revolution)
Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay El Altar de la Patria.png Efigie de la República
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan Timur Snow leopard
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela Juan Bimba (obsolete)
Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam Phu dieu Quoc to Lac Long Quan tai Den Noi Binh Da.jpg Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ Vietnamese Dragon, Lạc Bird
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe Sable antelope, Zimbabwe Bird

See also

References

  1. "Il Tempio di Venere e Roma" (in Italian). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. Mellor, Ronald J. (1991) [1981]. "The Goddess Roma". In Haase, Wolfgang; Temporini, Hildegard (eds.). Aufstieg und Niedergang der romischen Welt . de Gruyter. p. 956. ISBN   3-11-010389-3.
  3. Eric Hobsbawm, "Mass-Producing Traditions: Europe, 1870-1914," in Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Ranger, eds., The Invention of Tradition (Cambridge, 1983), 263-307.
  4. Rossi, Girolamo (2014). Lo scudo crociato. Un simbolo medievale nella comunicazione politica del Novecento (in Italian). Armando Editore. p. 38. ISBN   978-88-96817-06-3.
  5. Bazzano, Nicoletta (2011). Donna Italia. L'allegoria della Penisola dall'antichità ai giorni nostri (in Italian). Angelo Colla Editore. p. 24. ISBN   978-88-96817-06-3.
  6. White, Richard (2021). "The slippery symbols of Australia". State Library of New South Wales .
  7. Ahmed, Salahuddin (2004). Bangladesh: Past and Present. APH Publishing. p. 310. ISBN   8176484695 . Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  8. "NATIONAL SYMBOLS". Bangladesh Tourism Board. Bangladesh: Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism. Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  9. Couvreur, Manuel; Deknop, Anne; Symons, Thérèse (2005). Manneken-Pis : Dans tous ses états. Historia Bruxellae (in French). Vol. 9. Brussels: Musées de la Ville de Bruxelles. ISBN   978-2-930423-01-2.
  10. Emerson, Catherine (2015). Regarding Manneken Pis: Culture, Celebration and Conflict in Brussels. Leeds: Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISBN   978-1-909662-30-8.
  11. "20th SEA Games 1999". 2001-03-02. Archived from the original on 2001-03-02. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  12. "Berita 2021c - Rekaan baju 'Dang Budiwati' imbau zaman gemilang Sukan SEA NBD". www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  13. McGill, Robert (2017). War Is Here: The Vietnam War and Canadian Literature. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 37. ISBN   9780773551589 . Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  14. Barber, Katherine (2007). Only in Canada You Say: A Treasury of Canadian Language . Oxford University Press Canada. p.  70. ISBN   9780195427073.
  15. "Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada .
  16. "CHILE: 50 AÑOS DEL GOLPE. EL ÁNGEL DE LA LIBERTAD". Rascacielos. September 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  17. "网民为什么会把中国称为"兔子"" [Why do Internet called China a "hare"?]. The Paper (in Chinese). 1 August 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  18. "Animals in Cyprus". AZ Animals. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  19. Abdou, Mona. "Nahdet Misr: A Sculpture That Embodies Egypt At A Glance". Egyptian Streets. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  20. "Mahmoud Mukhtar: Egypt Awakened". University College London. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  21. Hassanabadi, Mahmoud. "Rostam: A Complex Puzzle: A New Approach to the Identification of the Character of Rostam in the Iranian National Epos Shāhnāme".
  22. Dallmayr, Fred (25 August 1999). Border Crossings: Toward a Comparative Political Theory. Lexington Books. ISBN   9780739152546.
  23. Heck, Isabel. "Le mythe de Siyâvosh: rapports entre l'épopée nationale de ferdowsi et des récits populaires en Iran (The myth of Siyâvosh: relationships between the national epic of Ferdowsi and popular stories in Iran)" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  24. O'Rourke Murphy, M. & MacKillop, J. (2006). An Irish Literature Reader: Poetry, Prose, Drama.
  25. "Discovering What's the National Animal of Ireland: A Cultural Emblem Revealed". 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  26. Minahan, James B. (2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. ABC-CLIO. p. 436. ISBN   9780313344978.
  27. Blashfield, Jean F. (2009). Italy. Scholastic. p. 33. ISBN   9780531120996.
  28. ""Saint Mark", Franciscan Media". Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  29. Liok Ee Tan (1988). The Rhetoric of Bangsa and Minzu. Monash Asia Institute. p. 14. ISBN   978-0-86746-909-7.
  30. Melanie Chew (1999). The Presidential Notes: A biography of President Yusof bin Ishak. Singapore: SNP Publications. p. 78. ISBN   978-981-4032-48-3.
  31. Minahan, James B. (2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. Greenwood. p. 101. ISBN   978-0313344961.
  32. Subba, Sanghamitra (29 January 2020). "Love it or hate it, it's abominable".
  33. Phillips, Jock. "South African War memorial, Waimate".
  34. Dingwall, R. "Southern Man (Dunedin Airport) Archived 2018-01-29 at the Wayback Machine ", Otago Sculpture Trust, 19 November 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  35. A Manifesto from the Provisional Government of Macedonia, 1881, Our mother Macedonia became now as a widow, lonely and deserted by her sons. She does not fly the banner of the victorious Macedonian army
  36. Bulgarian graphic representation of Bulgaria, East Rumelia and North Macedonia
  37. Voortrekker Monument Archived 1 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine , http://www.voortrekkermon.org
  38. Brownell, FG (1993). "Nasionale en Provinsiale Simbole". Nasionale Dier van Suid-Afrika: Springbok - Antidorcas Marsupialis. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  39. "Kunstschatten: Mama Sranan - Parbode Magazine". Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  40. Valance, Marc. (Baden, 2013) Die Schweizer Kuh. Kult und Vermarktung eines nationalen Symbols, p. 6 ff.
  41. "John Bull, symbol of the English and Englishness". Historic UK. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  42. "Britannia and Liberty: Behind the Design". Royal Mint. Retrieved 6 August 2024.

Further reading