Columbia

When we passed by the Capitol building in D.C. recently we noticed and wondered about the statue on the top of the dome. The figure is a woman, resembling the Statue of Liberty, but wearing a helmet and carrying a sword. I thought, perhaps, the figure is of Columbia -- but then hesitated because she was not carrying a torch like the movie company icon. Then we began to wonder who Columbia is, really, and about statues of muscular women depicting America, in general. How is the figure on the Capitol dome related to the one in New York?

A little research reveals yet more Native American associations and evolution of myths symbolizing our country. Early on the image of choice to represent our young nation was a naked native american warrior princess astride a giant armadillo. This must have seemed a little wild as soon thereafter the image changed to a clothed princess sans critter. With European influence images of Greek goddesses synthed in, an interesting combination of Artemis, the goddess of wisdom, and Athena, the goddess of war (or of liberty). Adornments changed then from skin, feathers, bows and arrows to flowing robes, spears, swords, torches, and tomes.

So, to answer my own question, "Columbia" is a synthesis of all the above, and name is derived from that dubious explorer Christopher Columbus who "discovered" this "new" world.

BTW the statue on the Capitol dome is "The Lady of Freedom", kind of a sister image to Lady Liberty.