The
seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia are the official symbols of the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
CommonwealthFour of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia...
of
VirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue...
.
History
In May 1776 the Virginia
colonyIn politics and in history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their...
declared its independence from
Great BritainThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
. On July 1, 1776, a committee of four was appointed to make a proper
sealA seal can be a wax seal bearing an impressed figure, or an embossed figure in paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document, but the term can also mean any device for making such impressions or embossments, essentially being a mould that has the mirror image of the figure in counter-relief,...
for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The four men were
Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. His famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States Declaration of Independence, which Lee signed...
,
George MasonGeorge Mason IV was an American patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
,
George WytheGeorge Wythe , was a lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and "Virginia's foremost classical scholar." Wythe's signature is positioned at the head of the list of seven Virginia signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence...
, and Robert Carter Nicholas. Four days later the committee's report for a design of the seal was read, and George Mason presented it to the Virginia
governmentA government is the body within a community, political entity or organization which has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws and regulations.....
. It was voted on and approved that same day. It is not known for certain which members of the committee were chiefly responsible for the design of the seal, but it is generally believed to be principally the work of
George WytheGeorge Wythe , was a lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and "Virginia's foremost classical scholar." Wythe's signature is positioned at the head of the list of seven Virginia signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence...
.
The seal makers did not want a design which in any way resembled the style of coats-of-arms used in
BritainThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
. Because of the strong admiration for the
Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, c...
felt by the Virginia leaders, the design of the new seal was taken from the mythology of
Ancient RomeAncient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. They also chose a two-sided design, as shown above.
Design
The obverse of the seal is
the official seal of
VirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue...
and is used on all the official papers and documents of the Commonwealth's
governmentA government is the body within a community, political entity or organization which has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws and regulations.....
, as well as on its
flagThe Flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia consists of the Seal of Virginia against a blue background. The current version of the flag was adopted at the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861. The flag is decorated with a white fringe along the fly...
. On this side, a female figure personifying the Roman virtue of
VirtusVirtus was a specific virtue in Ancient Rome. It carries connotations of valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character, and worth, perceived as masculine strengths...
was selected to represent the genius of the new Commonwealth. We call her Virtue, but her true nature is better indicated by her other name Fortitudo, or Courage. Virginia's Virtus is a figure of
peacePeace is commonly understood as the absence of hostility, or the existence of healthy or newly-healed interpersonal or international relationships, safety in matters of social or economic welfare, the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships and, in world matters,...
, standing in a pose which indicates a battle already won. She rests on her long
spearA spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a sharpened head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be of another material fastened to the shaft, such as obsidian, iron or bronze...
, its point turned downward to the ground. Her other
weaponA weapon is a tool used to apply force for the purpose of hunting, attack, self-defense, or defense in combat.Weapons can be as simple as a club, or as complex as an intercontinental ballistic missile, and include those that damage individual or group morale.-Prehistoric weapons:Very simple weapon...
, a
parazoniumA parazonium is a long triangular dagger, wide at the hilt end and coming to a point. In the Roman mythology, it is frequently carried by Virtus, particularly on early representations...
, is
sheathSheath may refer to:* Sheath dress, a type of dress* Scabbard, a container for a sword or other large blade* Condom, a kind of contraception* Vagina, the internal structure of the female genitalia* Koteka, a penis sheath worn by some natives of New Guinea...
ed; it is the
swordA sword is a long, edged piece of metal, used in many civilizations throughout the world, primarily as a cutting or thrusting weapon and occasionally for clubbing...
of
authorityIn government, authority is often used interchangeably with the term "power". However, their meanings differ: while "power" is defined as "the ability to influence somebody to do something that he could not have done", "authority" refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification and right to...
rather than that of
combatCombat, or fighting, is purposeful violent conflict intended to establish dominance over the opposition.The term "combat" typically refers to armed conflict between military forces in warfare, whereas the more general term "fighting" can refer to any violent conflict...
. Virtus is typically shown with a bare left breast; this is commonly recognized as the only use of nudity among the
seals of the U.S. statesThe following galleries display the official seals of the 50 states, federal district, and territories of the United States of America:...
.
Tyranny lies prostrate beneath the foot of Virtus, symbolizing
Great Britain'sThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
defeat by
VirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue...
. The royal
crownA crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art the crown may be shown being offered to those...
which has fallen to the ground beside him symbolizes the new
republicA republic is a form of government in which the head of state is not a monarch and the people have an impact on its government. The word 'republic' is derived from the Latin phrase res publica which can be translated as "a public affair".Both modern and ancient republics vary widely in their...
's release from the monarchical control of
Great BritainThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
; Virginia and
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
are the only U.S. states with a flag or seal displaying a crown. The broken chain in Tyranny's left hand represents Virginia's freedom from
Britain'sThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
restriction of colonial
tradeTrade is the voluntary exchange of goods, services, or both. Trade is also called commerce or transaction. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and services. Later one side of the barter were the metals, precious...
and westward expansion. The useless whip in his right hand signifies Virginia's relief from the torturing whip of acts of
punishmentPunishment is the practice of imposing something unpleasant or aversive on a person or animal, usually in response to disobedience, defiance, or behavior deemed morally wrong by individual, governmental, or religious principles.-Etymology:...
such as the
Intolerable ActsThe Intolerable Acts or the Coercive Acts are names used to describe a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 relating to Britain's colonies in North America...
. His robe is purple, a reference to
Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar , , was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and the
EtruscanEtruscan civilization is the modern English name given to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient Italy and Corsica, residing between the Apennines and the River Tiber, whom the ancient Romans called Etrusci or Tusci...
king of
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
,
Tarquinius PriscusLucius Tarquinius Priscus, also called Tarquin the Elder or Tarquin I, was the fifth King of Rome from 616 BC to 579 BC. His wife was Tanaquil.According to Livy, Tarquinius Priscus came from the Etruscan city of Tarquinii...
.
The
mottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...
selected for the obverse of the Virginia seal is
Sic Semper TyrannisSic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase meaning "thus always to tyrants". It is sometimes mistranslated as "death to tyrants". It is most known as the official motto of Virginia and for its usage during the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and Julius Caesar....
, or in
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
,
Thus Always to Tyrants. This is a derived quote from the famous events in Roman history, attributed to
BrutusBrutus is a Roman cognomen used by several politicians of the Junii family, especially in the Roman Republic. The plural of Brutus is Bruti, and the vocative form is Brute, as immortalized in the quotation "Et tu, Brute?"....
upon his participation in the slaying of
Julius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar , , was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
. (Caesar had been named
perpetual dictatorDictator perpetuo , also called dictator in perpetuum or incorrectly dictator perpetuus, was the office held by Julius Caesar from January 26 or February 15 of the year 44 BCE until his death...
of Rome in the same year, and some Senators believed had ambitions to abolish the
Roman RepublicThe Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, c...
and establish himself as a
monarchA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
.)
The
reverseThe term, obverse, and its opposite, reverse, describe the two sides of units of currency and many other kinds of two-sided objects - most often in reference to coins, but also to paper currency, flags , medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics...
of the seal pictures the
blessingA blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
s of
freedomPolitical freedom is the absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression.The opposite of a free society is a totalitarian state, which highly restricts political freedom in order to regulate almost every aspect of behavior...
and
peacePeace is commonly understood as the absence of hostility, or the existence of healthy or newly-healed interpersonal or international relationships, safety in matters of social or economic welfare, the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships and, in world matters,...
, as represented by three Roman
goddessA goddess is a female deity. Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities in a pantheon. In some cultures goddesses are commonly associated with the Earth, motherhood, love, and the household, often reflecting the historical gender roles of that culture...
es. In the center is the matron
LibertasLibertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and Derived Inspirations :In 238 B.C.E. during the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...
the goddess of individual liberties. In her hand she holds a
wandA wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar...
showing her magical gifts, at the top of the wand hangs a
Phrygian CapThe Phrygian cap is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia...
, also called a Liberty Cap - later made popular by French revolutionaries.
To the left of
LibertasLibertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and Derived Inspirations :In 238 B.C.E. during the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...
stands Ceres, the Roman goddess of
agricultureAgriculture is the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and...
. In her left hand is a
horn of plentyHorn of Plenty may mean:*Cornucopia, a symbolic, hollow horn filled with the inexhaustible gifts of celebratory fruits*Black chanterelle, a mushroom resembling the shape of a cornucopia...
overflowing with the abundance of Virginia's
harvestIn agriculture, the harvest is the processes of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. The harvest marks the end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop, and this is the...
s, while in her right hand is an enormous stalk of
wheatWheat is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, representing one of Virginia's leading
cropsAgriculture is the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and...
.
AeternitasIn Roman mythology, Aeternitas was the personification of eternity.This goddess was symbolized by a phoenix or a worm/snake biting its own tail, wrapped up in a circle ....
, representing Virginia's
eternityWhile in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of time...
, stands at the right of
LibertasLibertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and Derived Inspirations :In 238 B.C.E. during the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...
. In her right hand is a golden ball, an
emblemAn emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept โ e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory โ or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
of
authorityIn government, authority is often used interchangeably with the term "power". However, their meanings differ: while "power" is defined as "the ability to influence somebody to do something that he could not have done", "authority" refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification and right to...
, and atop the ball is a
PhoenixThe phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird which originated in the ancient mythologies mentioned in the Phoenician Mythology and the Egyptian and later the Greek Mythology.- Appearance and Abilities :...
, symbolizing
immortalityImmortality is the concept of living in a physical or spiritual form for an infinite or inconceivably vast length of time....
. On the Virginia seal, the phoenix represents effective
governmentA government is the body within a community, political entity or organization which has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws and regulations.....
.
The
mottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...
gracing the reverse with its trio of Libertas, Ceres, and Aeternitas is
Perservando, or in
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
,
Persevering, a reminder to future generations of the need to persist in maintaining the blessings of
libertyLiberty is a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will....
. The ornamental border on both sides of the seal consists of sprigs of
Parthenocissus quinquefoliaVirginia creeper or five-leaved ivy is a woody vine native to eastern and central North America, in southeastern Canada, the eastern and central United States, eastern Mexico, and Guatemala, west as far as Manitoba, South Dakota, Utah and Texas.-Growth:It is a prolific climber, reaching heights of...
, or commonly, Virginia Creeper. In 1930 another committee was charged with standardizing the seal's design because of all the variations that came into use over the years. The seals that now adorn the doors of the Southern Portico of the Capitol in Richmond were designed by Charles Keck. What the committee approved was basically adopting the 1776 seal as the standard. In 1949, another standard was implemented, when Virginia's Art Commission defined the official color scheme for the seal.
Under Virginia
lawLaw is a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading on derivatives markets...
, the
Secretary of the CommonwealthThe Secretary of the Commonwealth is a member of the Cabinet of the Governor of Virginia in the United States. The office is currently held by Katherine Hanley.-Duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth:...
is the Keeper of the Seals of the
CommonwealthFour of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia...
. The
Great Seal- Countries :* Great Seal of Canada* Great Seal of France* Official Seal of the President of Ireland* Great Seal of the Realm ** Great Seal of Northern Ireland** Great Seal of Scotland* Great Seal of the United States- Historic seals :* Confederate Seal...
and the lesser seal are the same except for size. The lesser seal is used on commissions of commonwealth officials and notaries, and on other papers which remain within the boundaries of, or relate only to, Virginia.
Legality
The Seal of Virginia, as defined in the
Code of VirginiaThe Code of Virginia is the statutory law of the U.S. state of Virginia, and consists of the codified legislation of the Virginia General Assembly. The 1950 Code of Virginia is the revision currently in force...
, ยง1-500:
See also
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- Symbols of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Flag of Virginia
The Flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia consists of the Seal of Virginia against a blue background. The current version of the flag was adopted at the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861. The flag is decorated with a white fringe along the fly...
Sources
- Adapted from Simkins, Francis Butler; Jones, Spotswood Hunnicutt; & Poole, Sidman P. (1964). Virginia: History, Government, Geography (Revised Edition). Charles Scribner's Sons. pp 673โ675.
- [1] The Virginia Legislative Information Service: http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm
External links