Hammonia
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Hammonia is the Latin name for Hamburg, and for Hamburg's patron goddess.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Hammonia in literature and music
Hamburg’s Anthem, the Hamburg-Lied or Hamburg-Hymne was written in 1828 by Georg Nikolaus Bärmann. Deutschland: Ein Wintermärchen [1] (Germany: A Winter’s Tale) by Heinrich Heine includes her.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Ships 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 modern Hapag-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.
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