General Chat

Why - who does this symbol of ours upset now? I am tired of it all. Our heritage and rights are disappearing fast down the swanee.

lol David, but I just googled it... I had a vague glimmering memory of boring history lessons long ago.... so dear old Wiki provided me with this...

*The Romans originally described the group of islands off north-west Europe as the Britanniae, consisting of Albion (Britain), Hibernia (Ireland) and many smaller islands. Over time, Albion came to be known as Britannia, and the name for the group was subsequently dropped. The island was first invaded by Julius Caesar in 55 BC. At the height of Roman Britain, the Empire included most of the island of Great Britain. The Romans built Hadrian's Wall close to today's border between England and Scotland. The province was named Britannia, and the unincorporated area of northern Britain was called Caledonia. A southern part of what is now known as Scotland was occupied by the Romans for about 20 years in the mid-second century AD, keeping in place the Picts to the north of the Antonine Wall. The Romans never completely occupied the island of Great Britain, and the Celtic tribes even prevented full consolidation of the southwest. People living in the Roman province of Britannia were called Britanni. Ireland was never conquered and was called Hibernia.

There was a celtic goddess called Brigid who is one of the many sources of the personification of Britain. The Emperor Claudius paid a visit while Britain was being conquered and was honoured with the agnomen Britannicus as if he were the conqueror, but Britannia remained a place, not a female personification of the land, until she appeared on coins issued under Hadrian,[1] which introduced a female figure labelled BRITANNIA.

Britannia was soon personified as a goddess. Early portraits of the goddess depict Britannia as a beautiful young woman, wearing the helmet of a Centurion, and wrapped in a white garment with her right breast exposed. She is usually shown seated on a rock, holding a spear, and with a spiked shield propped beside her. Sometimes she holds a standard and leans on the shield. On another range of coinage, she is seated on a globe above waves: Britain at the edge of the 'known' world. Similar coin types were also issued under Antoninus Pius.

Modern historians have noted similarities Britannia has in appearance to Boudicca. Both are usually depicted with shields and wearing long dresses, and the physiognomy of both female figures in early depictions is remarkably similar.*

So there was a coin used in Britain, with Britannia on it, well before 300 years ago... so maybe the new introduction 300 years ago was spurred on by people who were the traditionalists of their day, and rather fed up with king's heads on the coinage.... Britannia is so much better looking, I think, lol..... yet another perspective!!

Love

Daff xxx

I was being tongue in cheek, Daff. As I said, I think it's a shame.

Lol David.. I know you were...... but you did have a really interesting point that made my brain cells kick into gear... I actually went to try and find out WHY they changed it to Britannia 300 years ago... still haven't found out.. I had a vague memory (grey cells leaking, lol) but was very surprised to find what I did...

No offense was meant, truly!... I was quite childishly pleased to have that info... am still none the wiser where 300 years ago is concerned, but I will keep looking, cos it has fascinated me!

Love

Daff xxx

No offence taken, Daff - I should have put a smile on that other post somewhere:) I did a project on Britannia at school:))

Daff... thank you so much for taking the trouble to do what I was too lazy to lol.

When you look into things it is fascinating the information you can turn up.

I am truly impressed and think there is even more reason for us to keep Britannia on our coins.

Jean x.

lol Jean... it's just me being nosey.. and if I am going to sign Ann's petition I need to know what I am signing up for!!
lol David.... I got all about Caradoc and Gelert, and Owain Glyndwr!!

Love

Daff xxx