The Apotheosis of Washington

The Apotheosis of Washington , (German: The becoming of Washington ) is a fresco created in 1865 bythe Italian artist Constantino Brumidi . It is located in about 55 meters height in the top of the dome of the rotunda of the Capitol of the United States . Brumidi created the fresco, which covers an area of 433.3 m², in eleven months of work immediately after the end of the Civil War .

Symbols

The fresco The Apotheosis of Washington shows the first US President George Washington at his allegorical becoming god ( apotheosis ). Washington, dressed in a purple suit with a rainbow at its feet, is surrounded by figures from Greek and Roman mythology. On his left is the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas , on his right, dressed in green, is the Greek goddess of victory Nike . Libertas wears a red cap, a symbol of emancipation or freed slaves in Roman history .

Between Libertas and Nike, 13 virgins with a star above their head form a circle. They represent the thirteen original colonies . Some of them hold a banner with the words E pluribus unum , the symbol for the defection of the thirteen colonies from the European powers. A total of three of the virgins are shown facing away from Washington, they are supposed to represent the departure of some colonies from the common union (see Civil War ).

In another circle around Washington, the two deities and the thirteen virgins, there are six scenes, each allegorically depicting a constituent element of the American state: war , science , seafaring , trade , mechanics and agriculture . Due to the architectural conditions, the six scenes on the edge of the fresco cannot be seen in their entirety.

scene	Description of the six scenes of the outer circle
	War The Columbia is located directly below Washington and symbolizes war. Depicted is a woman who fights for freedom and against tyranny and monarchy with a raised sword and a shield in the colors of the flag of the United States . Columbia is supported by a bald eagle with arrows in its feet (reminiscent of the Great Seal of the United States ).
	Science Minerva , the Roman goddess of craftsmen and wisdom, is depicted with a spear. It points to major American inventions such as a generator , a battery, and a printing press . It is framed by scientists and inventors such as Benjamin Franklin , Samuel FB Morse and Robert Fulton .
	Seafaring This illustration shows Neptune , the Roman god of the sea, with a trident and a crown of seaweed . He rides in a carriage pulled by seahorses. He is accompanied by Venus , the Roman goddess of beauty who, according to the legend, rose from the sea. Venus supports other people shown in laying the transatlantic submarine cable that connects America with Europe. There is a warship in the background.
	Commerce Mercury , the Roman god of commerce, hands over a bag of gold to the American financier of the Revolutionary War, Robert Morris . On his left men lift a box onto a hand truck, on his right an anchor and sailors lead over to depict seafaring.
	Mechanics Vulcanus , the Roman god of fire, lightning and craftsmen, is shown standing at an anvil . His foot rests on a cannon and there are several cannon balls next to it. There is a steam engine in the background . It is believed that another man who works on an forge is Charles Thomas. Thomas supervised the iron work during the construction of the Capitol Cathedral.
	Agriculture This illustration shows Ceres , the Roman goddess of agriculture, with a container made of wheat and a cornucopia, the symbol of abundance. She is sitting on a harvesting machine from the American manufacturer McCormick. The personification of the boy America holds the reins of the horses while the Roman goddess of blossom, Flora in the foreground, plucks flowers.