- Hammonia
Hammonia is the Latin name for
Hamburg , and for Hamburg's patron goddess.Patron goddess of Hamburg
The figure of Hammonia as patron goddess of Hamburg first appears in art and literature in the 18th century. Up until the Reformation, the city's patroness had been the Virgin Mary.
Hammonia is a tall and beautiful goddess who watches over Hamburg. She is usually shown wearing a crown in the form of a city wall surmounted by towers; she may also hold the city's coat of arms, a ship's anchor, etc. She is said to represent the values of Hamburg: freedom, peace, tolerance, prosperity, harmony, welfare and free trade.
Hammonia in literature and music
Hamburg’s Anthem, the "Hamburg-Lied" or "
Hamburg-Hymne " was written in1828 by Georg Nikolaus Bärmann. "Deutschland: Ein Wintermärchen" [http://www.pos1.info/8/8wint.htm#1_0_3] ("Germany: A Winter’s Tale") byHeinrich Heine includes her.Hammonia statue
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 has overlooked the port, and this time she is accompanied by Europa.hips named Hammonia
Hammonia was also the name of a series of 5 ocean-going vessels owned by the
Hamburg-American Line , a predecessor of the modernHapag-Lloyd . The ships were built in 1854, 1867, 1881, 1909, and 1965. The fifth ship, a freighter, is still in service. Several of the earlier ships carried trans-atlantic passengers and played a role in German immigration to the United States.External links
* [http://www.genealogus.de/heutegestern/hammonia/ The Statue of Hammonia]
* [http://www.pos1.info/8/8wint.htm#1_0_3 Heinrich Heine: Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen]
* [http://www.theshipslist.com/pictures/hammonia.htm Photo of the second Hammonia vessel]
* [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/hamburg.html History of the Hamburg-America Line including the 5 Hammonia vessels]
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