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Why Marianne can become a symbol of France
Marianne is the national symbol of the French Republic. As far as its extension is concerned, she is also a personification of freedom and reason . In contrast to the “Gauloise dorée” (“Gauloise dorée”), which represents the French nation and its history, land and culture, her image not only appears on the seals of national government agencies and French postage stamps, but is also engraved on French euro coins. She is also seen on the francs that have been withdrawn from circulation.
Marianne is one of the most famous symbols of the French Republic.
Marianne, the national symbol of the French Republic, represents a political state and her values.
Her image can be found all over France and is often placed prominently in town halls or courts. Her image was carved into a bronze statue that stood on the Place de la Nation in Paris to symbolize the “victory of the republic”.
In classical times, people often used gods, goddesses, or allegorical personifications to represent a certain idea. Although suppressed in the Middle Ages, the practice regained popularity during the Renaissance.
On October 22, 2019, the emblem of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was announced. Female elements were incorporated into the design. Marianne, the national symbol of France, was incorporated into the emblem to pay tribute to female athletes.
There are different opinions about the origin of the image of Marianne.
One theory suggests that Marianne is derived from the image of the mother who raised Romulus and Remus, created by the artist Honoré Daumier in 1848.
There is also a theory that her image comes from the sculptor François Rude singing “Marseillaise” (Marseillaise), Angry female warrior. In any case, Marianne has become a symbol of France.
As a personality symbol of the republican system, her image is often used to refer to the republican faction, and she is often ridiculed and insulted by those who oppose the republic. Although both the Marianne and the Gallic rooster are common French symbols, neither enjoys official status: under Article 2 of the French Constitution (Constitution française), the only official symbol of France is the French flag.
During the French Revolution in 1789, a series of allegorical personifications that symbolized freedom and rationality, respectively, emerged. Eventually the two symbols converge on a female figure. She can appear either standing or sitting, and has other notable features, such as a rooster around her, a tricolor cap badge, and a Phrygian cap on her head.
Usually the woman symbolizes freedom, reason, and the commoner character of the French nation, homeland, and republic. (For such an image, refer to the Statue of Liberty by the French artist, whose two replicas are on display in Paris and Saint-Etienne.)
In September 1792, the National Convention (Convention nationale) issued a decree announcing that a woman with a spear and a Phrygian hat would appear on the seal of the state agency.
The beautiful female figure of Marianna not only inspired images such as the Sans-culottes, but also offered solace to the people of this country traumatized by war.
Mariana’s name is also often associated with some republican secret societies. During the Second Empire, members of a secret republican organization had to take an oath in Marianne’s name to overthrow the imperial “regime” (régime).
One last point to note is that during the French Revolution, the most ordinary people rose up to fight for their rights, so it was natural to use the most ordinary French female names to refer to the republic .
