Information AboutHammonia |
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Hammonia is the Latin name for Hamburg. Hammonia as the patron goddess of the city only emerged in the 18th century, mostly in poetic references. No mythology has ever tried to explain her origin and her history, and maybe that is the real myth about her. As the tall and beautiful goddess who watches over her city, she represents Hamburg itself and all it stands (or claims to stand) for: freedom, peace, tolerance, prosperity, harmony, welfare and – most importantly – free trade. Apart from the innumerable references in songs and poems, including Hamburg’s Anthem, the ''Hamburg-Lied'' or Hamburg-Hymne , and the equally innumerable publishing houses, sailing clubs, soccer teams, typewriter manufacturers and minor planets that bear her name, she hardly ever was part of any story. The only exception was her appearance to the poet Heinrich Heine in ''Deutschland: Ein Wintermärchen'' {Link without Title} (''Germany: A Winter’s Tale'') in which she took him back to her flat and allowed him to see Germany’s future in the bedpan of Charlemagne (Hamburg’s founder). In 1888 her statue and that of a young Germania were raised on the ''Brooksbrücke'' (''Brook’s Bridge'') to welcome Emperor Wilhelm II. as he opened the ''Freihafen'' (''Free Port''). Shortly after the end of WWII, both statues disappeared without a trace. It took almost 60 years for the city to see the return of their patron goddess: since 2003 a new statue of Hammonia is overlooking the port, and this time she is accompanied by Europa. EXTERNAL LINKS The Statue of Hammonia {Link without Title} Heinrich Heine: Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen {Link without Title} |