Analysis
The Great Seal of the state of North Carolina has changed many times over the years. There have been ten seals used in the history of the state. Four were used during the colonial period before independence was gained and six were used after independence. The seals were all relatively similar in most aspects such as size, looks, and how they were made. When you look at all of the seals you can see that all the changes that were made over time were somewhat minor changes. The first two seals depict the coat of arms of the eight lords proprietors to which the territory of Carolina was given after they help King Charles regain the throne. The figures Liberty and Plenty appear on the third seal of the state and all that follow. these two figures along are full of symbolism and importance. Liberty is modeled after the Greek goddess Athena or the Roman goddess Minerva, both of whom represented liberty in there own civilizations. The cap that is on top of the pole that is in Liberty’s hand is known as a “liberty cap” which represents freedom from bondage, which evolved from the Phrygian cap or the Pileus, a cap worn by freed slaves in the Roman Empire. The liberty cap became a symbol of freedom during revolutionary America and France. The fact that Liberty is holding the scroll with the word constitution on it is also significant because it implies that the constitution protects liberty. Plenty signifies food and abundance. The dates found on the seal are also of great importance to the history of the state. The date at the top of the seal is that of the Mecklenburg Declaration and it was added to the seal because of a suggest made by the late Jullian R. Allsbrook who thought that it should be included on the seal because it was on the state flag and it would serve as a constant reminder of the people of this state’s commitment to liberty. However, there is some controversy as to whether or not this date should stay on the flag and seal because of a debate of the Declarations authenticity because there is a lack of original documentation. (Office of Archives and History North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources , 2008) Compared to seal of other states such as Tennessee the seal of North Carolina is very detailed. The seal of the state of Tennessee is very simple it contains the roman numeral for the number 16 because it was the sixteenth state to enter the Union. It also contains the year that it joined the Union. The seal also contains a plow, a sheaf of wheat, a cotton stalk and a riverboat which are all important symbols of the state. The words agriculture and commerce are also found on the seal. The great seal of the state of North Carolina is a very important symbol.
Seal of the State of North Carolina compared to the Seal of the State of Tennessee
Citation for the picture of the great seal of the state of North Carolina:(2009). Great seal of north carolina. (2009). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.carolina-north.com/state_seal.html
Citation for the picture of the great seal of the state of Tennessee:
(n.d.). tennessee state seal. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Tennessee/stateSEAL.html
Citation for the picture of the great seal of the state of Tennessee:
(n.d.). tennessee state seal. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Tennessee/stateSEAL.html