Statue of Liberty Inscription

The Statue of Liberty inscription, the torch held in Lady Liberty’s hands, the crown with seven spikes and the position of the feet, etc. all symbolize some profound thought or the other. Statue of Liberty is a symbol of America’s freedom from slavery.

One of the iconic monuments of the United States is the magnificent Statue of Liberty. Located on a 12 acre island, in New York, near Ellis Island, this monument is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. A gift presented by the French to the Americans on July 4, 1884, to celebrate republicanism, this Statue of Liberty is the pride of every American and represents the friendship between the two nations. The Statue of Liberty inscription written on it has inspired people of several generations and will continue to inspire myriad others. Read more on history of the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty Made of copper sheeting and suspended from a steel framework, the 151 feet tall Statue of Liberty bears semblance to Libertas, an ancient Roman goddess of freedom from slavery and tyranny. Her raised right foot symbolizes moving forward, while the left foot symbolizes tramping binding shackles. Her crown features seven spikes representing the seven continents and seven seas. The crown features an observation deck with 25 windows and can accommodate 20 people at a time. Read more on visiting the Statue of Liberty

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Her highlight is the torch held in the right hand and the Statue of Liberty tablet grasped in the left. The flame of the torch is coated with gold leaf and represents enlightenment, affirming the fact why the Statue of Liberty is referred to as “Liberty enlightening the World”. The tablet on the other hand, depicts the date of United States Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

Statue of Liberty Inscription

The inscription on the Statue of Liberty comprises a series of letters, along with a few numbers written in Roman numbers. The inscription actually denotes the day the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence. As on the tablet, the inscription goes like this:

JULY IV MDCCLXXVI

This means July 4, 1776. This is the only inscription found on the Statue of Liberty.

This iconic tablet held in the gorgeous Lady Liberty’s hand has been subject to various kinds of interpretations. One interpretation of the tablet is that it is a symbol of importance of commemorating historical events occurring in each nation. The backing data given to this interpretation is the fact that the date inscribed there is one of the most historical events that occurred in the US.

People with this school of thought say that a nation can never progress successfully without acknowledging its history. So, students of the nation should delve into history and use lessons from the past to create the future. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty will always remind children of their nation’s past. The justification sounds fair enough! Read more on American history.

The other school of thought is that the Statue of Liberty tablet symbolizes a book, that is power of knowledge. So by holding the book, Lady Liberty is reminding Americans the importance of knowledge and how crucial it is for a nation to fill the hearts of its people with knowledge, so as to edify the moral state of all citizens residing in the American nation. The third possible interpretation is that the tablet along with the torch, stands as a symbol of enlightenment. Just like how the torch symbolizes light and leads to enlightenment, the book also in an indirect manner symbolizes enlightenment by providing the power of knowledge.

Though there are several quotes associated with the Statue of Liberty, the most popular one is “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”, from the sonnet written by the poet Emma Lazarus. In the early 1900s, a plaque with her poem was mounted inside the pedestal. The poem goes like this:

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Read more on :

• Statue of Liberty Facts
• Statue of Liberty – Pride of America
• Why is the Statue of Liberty Green

The Statue of Liberty history, the stories associated with it and the profound thoughts hidden in this magnificent Lady are simply stupendous! The more you learn about Lady Liberty the more you admire her. No wonder she is referred to as the pride of America!