Muslim Statute of Liberty

[Jiro]

The Statue of Liberty Was Originally a Muslim Woman

The United States has debated immigration since the country's founding, and the Statue of Liberty—a potent symbol for immigrants—is often invoked as an argument for why we should usher in those who seek safety and opportunity with open arms. A little-known fact about Lady Liberty adds an intriguing twist to today's debate about refugees from the Muslim world: As pointed out by The Daily Beast’s Michael Daly in a recent op-ed, the statue itself was originally intended to represent a female Egyptian peasant as a Colossus of Rhodes for the Industrial Age.

That might be surprising to people more familiar with the statue’s French roots than its Arab ones. After all, the statue’s structure was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), and Lady Liberty was given to the United States by France for its centennial to celebrate the alliance of the two countries formed during the French Revolution.

The statue’s designer, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, was also French, but he found inspiration in a very different place: Egypt. In 1855, he visited Nubian monuments at Abu Simbel, which feature tombs guarded by gigantic colossus figures. Bartholdi became fascinated by the ancient architecture, developing what the National Park Service calls a “passion for large-scale public monuments and colossal structures.” Eventually, he channeled that passion into a proposal for the inauguration of the Suez Canal.

Bartholdi envisioned a colossal monument featuring a robe-clad woman representing Egypt to stand at Port Said, the city at the northern terminus of the canal in Egypt. To prep for this undertaking, Barry Moreno, author of multiple books about the statue, writes that Bartholdi studied art like the Colossus, honing the concept for a figure called Libertas who would stand at the canal. “Taking the form of a veiled peasant woman,” writes Moreno, “the statue was to stand 86 feet high, and its pedestal was to rise to a height of 48 feet.” Early models of the statue were called “Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia.”

Edward Berenson, author of Statue of Liberty: A Translatlantic Story, writes that Bartholdi’s concept morphed from “a gigantic female fellah, or Arab peasant” into “a colossal goddess.” But Egypt, which had invested enormous amounts of time and money into the landmark canal, was not as eager about Bartholdi’s idea. Isma’il Pasha, the reigning khedive, rejected the plan as too costly.

Eventually, a 180-foot tall lighthouse was installed at Port Said instead. But Bartholdi was not discouraged. He eventually repurposed his concept into “Liberty Enlightening the World”—the official name for the statue that has been overlooking New York Harbor since 1886.

 

[Reba]

Muslims would never allow a statue of a woman. No likenesses of humans are allowed. That would be idolatry.

 

[caz]

How do many Muslim men know they keep woman indoors.
It reads to me he based his lovely statue on pre Muslim era nooooo way that be allowed these days she be stoned to death

 

[dogmom]

<begin quote> "But Edward Berenson, professor of history at New York University, says it’s not accurate to say that the Statue of Liberty was originally conceived as a Muslim woman.

“That’s a serious oversimplification,” said Berenson.

“There’s a relationship between the Egyptian statue that Bartholdi first conceived in the late 1860s. But that statue changed as it migrated to the United States. The original version of the statue made sense for Egyptian society. It wouldn’t have made sense for America.” ' ,<end quote>
- See more at: http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/161384#sthash.OY5s7Ro4.dpuf

I'm not saying I -don't- think it's possible<the idea as discussed in the first article Jiro posted>....but also think there may be more layers to the original complexity.

I also wonder - if this was the case - since religions do change in time, if at one point certain facets of the religion of Islam - or certain people holding power - were more flexible such that such a statue would have been more tolerated? Especially if there's more to the story.

 

[Barbaro]

The writer either didn't do homework or pushed propaganda on this poor article. What did the Smithsonian think? How could she be a historian? Wow.

Look, Colossus of Rhodes was built in BC. Muhammad didn't exist at the time. Islam didn't exist.

Erin Blakemore, I wish the Smithsonian fired you for your bad job.

 

[Reba]

How do many Muslim men know they keep woman indoors.
It reads to me he based his lovely statue on pre Muslim era nooooo way that be allowed these days she be stoned to death

Islam dates back to AD 610, which is long (over 1,000 years) before the Statue of Liberty was designed.

 

[PowerON]

If it's model after Muslim woman, then Muslim women should follow what Statue of Liberty dress up. No?

 

[whatdidyousay!]

http://www.nyctrip.com/pages/index.aspx?pageID=1143

I read Bartholdi model it after his mother years ago and that was it said in link .


"Bartholdi was commissioned to design the sculpture, which he modeled after his mother, Charlotte. Gustave Eiffel, "

 

[Barbaro]

If it's model after Muslim woman, then Muslim women should follow what Statue of Liberty dress up. No?

No it wasn't a Muslim peasant. It never is. It was claimed she was a Muslim peasant because she happened to be Egyptian. It was made up. Egypt was a Christian country during the Byzantine Empire era before Muslim invaders took over.

http://www.nyctrip.com/pages/index.aspx?pageID=1143

I read Bartholdi model it after his mother years ago and that was it said in link .


"Bartholdi was commissioned to design the sculpture, which he modeled after his mother, Charlotte. Gustave Eiffel, "

It is very common artists use a family member, lover, friend or anyone as a model. It's still practiced today. Artists usually find inspirations from family, history, mythology and subjects to express the meaning. Barthodli was a sculptor, looking for different concepts. He had gathered inspirations (Colossus of Rhodes, Roman mythic goddess and other famous woman figures, and his mom) together to create the Statue of Liberty.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

No it wasn't a Muslim peasant. It never is. It was claimed she was a Muslim peasant because she happened to be Egyptian. It was made up. Egypt was a Christian country during the Byzantine Empire era before Muslim invaders took over.



It is very common artists use a family member, lover, friend or anyone as a model. It's still practiced today. Artists usually find inspirations from family, history, mythology and subjects to express the meaning. Barthodli was a sculptor, looking for different concepts. He had gathered inspirations (Colossus of Rhodes, Roman mythic goddess and other famous woman figures, and his mom) together to create the Statue of Liberty.

I know , my brother in law is an artist and he use my sister who is his wife, our mom and me for a model in his some of his art work .

 

[DeafDucky]

While it may be "common" for artists to use family, friends as models, many artists also get inspirations from past history, past culture and past civilizations. THAT'S the impression I get related to the statue of liberty... not that he modeled it after a Muslim woman.. more taking the inspiration of the beauty.

I'm not interested in arguing the finer points of 'history' just speculating as to the artist's intent/vision- which we don't know since he's long dead and I don't think we'll ever know his thought process either.