Analysis Of Horatio Greenough's Marble Statue Of George Washington

952 Words2 Pages

Upon reviewing different photos of Horatio Greenough’s marble statue of George Washington, I immediately thought of The Iliad and The Aeneid. The large sculpture of Washington with a god like body, dressed in a Roman toga and sitting upon a Grecian style seat embellished with mythical symbols, related to the Greek gods and Hercules, initially invoked these thoughts. His statue is also holding a sword, which brings to mind an overall image of a warrior and hero. Initially, Greenough was commissioned to create the piece as a commemoration of the centennial of Washington’s birth , but to me this is a way to truly immortalize the great George Washington. Upon further evaluation, I see a relationship between the great founding father and hero of …show more content…

Achilles demonstrated the values of determination, great bravery, strength and skills to accomplish many achievements as a warrior in the 10 year span of the Trojan War. When he meets with Agamemnon’s messengers, Achilles even points out how he conquered several Trojan cities by land and sea, and contributed to Agamemnon’s treasures as a result of his achievements as a great warrior. Hector also proves he is strong, brave and determined, but he also shows he is responsible to his people. Hector loyally supports his family, even though he does not agree with brother’s decisions and actions. He leads fearlessly in battle, to uphold his responsibilities to the Trojan people, as he was raised to do so. Even when Hector’s wife pleads with him to stay with her and their son, he responds by following his duty and not his personal desires. To me, these values are reflected in the George Washington statue by the sword held in his hand, which is reflective of the great sense of duty to the cause, bravery and skill George Washington demonstrated in the Revolutionary …show more content…

Yes the toga, stature and seat Washington is posed in may contribute to my impression of a strong Roman connection. However, look at the way that Aeneas led his people to a new land after Troy was destroyed and the determination he showed to fulfill his duty and ultimately give his people a strong and prosperous future. He was presented with several opportunities to make different choices along the way. Aeneas could have avoided Italy, since it near Greece, and Troy had recently been destroyed by the Greeks. There was also the option of following his heart and staying with Dido, to be her King in Carthage. Instead, he chose to fulfill the destiny offered to him by the gods, and ultimately the rise of the Roman people. Although Washington was not driven from his homeland, as Aeneas was by the Greeks, he was a strong leader who helped pioneer a new nation. Aeneas, as the Virgilian hero, had “the power to create history by the choices he makes in life” , much the way that Washington did when he chose to be a leader in the Revolutionary War and serve as the first President of the United

Open Document