La Estatua de la Libertad iba a ser egipcia #Historia #Curiosidades #Inspiración

The Surprising Origins of the Statue of Liberty

The Initial Concept

• The Statue of Liberty, a renowned symbol of the United States, was originally conceived as a project for Egypt. The French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed it to be a giant woman dressed in Egyptian peasant attire at the entrance of the Suez Canal.

• The purpose of this statue was to serve as a massive lighthouse, illuminating pathways to Asia under a project named "Egypt." However, the Egyptian governor deemed it too expensive and rejected the idea.

Transformation and Relocation

• Undeterred by rejection, Bartholdi modified his design by changing the attire from Egyptian to classical Roman toga and pitched it as a gift to the United States in celebration of its independence.

• To ensure structural integrity, Bartholdi collaborated with Gustave Eiffel (famous for designing the Eiffel Tower), who created an internal skeleton that would support the statue.

Journey and Assembly

• The statue was transported disassembled in 350 pieces on a ship, resembling an enormous IKEA furniture set. It was eventually reassembled on Bedloe's Island (now known as Liberty Island).

Reflection on Symbolism

• This narrative raises questions about how symbols derive their value: Is it rooted in their original intent or shaped by their eventual significance? The irony lies in how something initially intended as a rejected lighthouse became an emblematic figure representing freedom and hope for exiles.