Difference between revisions of "Britannia"
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'''Britannia''' is the [[National_Personification|national personification]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. | '''Britannia''' is the [[National_Personification|national personification]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. | ||
| − | She is usually depicted as a young woman with brown hair. She wares a Corinthian helmet and white robes. During the Victorian period she began to be depicted holding Poseidon's three-pronged trident and often stood in the ocean; this represented British naval power. Beside her is a Greek shield which | + | She is usually depicted as a young woman with brown hair. She wares a Corinthian helmet and white robes. During the Victorian period she began to be depicted holding Poseidon's three-pronged trident and often stood in the ocean; this represented British naval power. Beside her is a Greek shield which sports the Union Flag, and at her feet a British Lion. Today she may also be holding, in one out stretched arm, an olive branch, as on the British Fifty pence piece. Older images of her depict a sword. |
She inspired the the popular patriotic British song, "Rule, Britannia!", from the poem of the same name by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. | She inspired the the popular patriotic British song, "Rule, Britannia!", from the poem of the same name by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. | ||
Revision as of 21:11, May 1, 2010
Britannia is the national personification of the United Kingdom.
She is usually depicted as a young woman with brown hair. She wares a Corinthian helmet and white robes. During the Victorian period she began to be depicted holding Poseidon's three-pronged trident and often stood in the ocean; this represented British naval power. Beside her is a Greek shield which sports the Union Flag, and at her feet a British Lion. Today she may also be holding, in one out stretched arm, an olive branch, as on the British Fifty pence piece. Older images of her depict a sword.
She inspired the the popular patriotic British song, "Rule, Britannia!", from the poem of the same name by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740.
See also
- John Bull, a personification of England or less commonly of the United Kingdom