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A number of symbols ofEurope have emerged since antiquity, notably the mythological figure ofEuropa.
Several symbols were introduced in the 1950s and 1960s by theEuropean Council. TheEuropean Communities created additional symbols for itself in 1985, which was to become inherited by theEuropean Union (EU) in 1993. Suchsymbols of the European Union now represent political positions in support of EU policies andEuropean integration as advocated byEuropeans.
Europa was used as a geographical term, for one of the great divisions of theknown world, byHerodotus (in a reduced geographical scope, referring to parts ofThrace orEpirus, also in theHomeric hymn toApollo). It became the geographical term for the landmass west of theTanais in the Roman-era geography byStrabo andPtolemy.Europa first began to be used in a cultural sense, denoting the territory ofLatinChristendom, in theCarolingian period.
Europa is a feminine name, the name of anymph inHesiod, and in a legend first related byHerodotus, the name of aPhoenician noble-woman abducted by Greeks (in Herodotus' opinion,Cretans). The classical legend of Europa being abducted not by Greek pirates but byZeus in the shape of abull is told inOvid'sMetamorphoses. According to the account, Zeus took the guise of a tame white bull and mixed himself with the herds of Europa's father. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, and got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island ofCrete. There he revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made byHephaestus and three additional gifts:Talos,Laelaps and ajavelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellationTaurus.
In addition to generally being a frequent motif in European art sinceGreco-Roman times, thefounding myth of Europa and the bull has frequently been alluded to in relation to the continent and by the modern European Union, and can thus be considered not only a piece oftoponymy, but also as a symbol, ornational personification of Europe. For instance, statues of Europa and the bull are located outside several of the European Union's institutions, as well as on theGreek €2 coin. Europa's name appeared on postage stamps commemorating the Council of Europe, which were first issued in 1956.[citation needed] Furthermore, the dome of theEuropean Parliament'sPaul-Henri Spaak building contains a large mosaic byAligi Sassu portraying theabduction of Europa with other elements ofGreek mythology. The bull is also in the top-left corner of the new design of the residence permit card of all European Union countries.[1]
Europa regina (Latin forQueen Europe) is thecartographic depiction of the European continent as a queen.[2][3] Introduced and made popular during themannerist period,Europa Regina is themap-like depiction of theEuropean continent as a queen.[2][3] Made popular in the 16th century, the map shows Europe as a young and graceful woman wearingimperial regalia. TheIberian Peninsula (Hispania) is the head, wearing a crown shaped like theCarolingianhoop crown. ThePyrenees, forming the neck, separate the Iberian Peninsula fromFrance (Gallia), which makes up the upper chest. TheHoly Roman Empire (Germania and other territories) is the centre of the torso, withBohemia (sometimesAustria in early depictions) being the heart of the woman (alternatively described as a medallion at her waist). Her long gown stretches toHungary,Poland,Lithuania,Livonia,Bulgaria,Muscovy,Macedonia andGreece. In her arms, formed byItaly andDenmark, she holds asceptre and anorb (Sicily).[4] In most depictions,Africa,Asia and theScandinavian peninsula are partially shown,[4] as are theBritish Isles, in schematic form.[4]
The first map to depict Europe in this manner was made by Johannes Bucius Aenicola (1516–1542) in 1537.[5][6][7] Though much about the origination and initial perception of this map is uncertain,[7] it is known that Putsch maintained close relations withHoly Roman EmperorFerdinand I ofHabsburg,[7][8] and that the map's popularity increased significantly during the second half of the 16th century.[7]Europa Regina was introduced in the 1530s by the Austrian cartographer Johannes Putsch, possibly with the intent of depicting Europe as the spouse ofCharles V ofHabsburg, who aspired to become the universal monarch of Christendom and reigned over numerous realms including theHoly Roman Empire, Austrian lands, Burgundian territories, and the kingdom ofSpain.[4][8] Arguments in favour of this hypothesis are the westward orientation of the map to haveHispania as the crowned head, said to resemble the face of Charles V's wife,Isabella of Portugal; the use of the Holy Roman Empire'sinsignia – its Carolingian crown, sceptre and orb – and the portrayal of Habsburg realms (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, Germany) as the heart and centre of the body; the design of the gown, which resembles the contemporary dress code at the Habsburg court.[9][8][4][10] As in contemporary portraits of couples,Europa regina has her head turned to her right and also holds the orb with her right hand, which has been interpreted as facing and offering power to her imaginary husband, the emperor.[10] More general, Europe is shown as theres publica christiana,[8] the unitedChristendom in medieval tradition,[4] andgreat[2] or even dominant power in the world.[10]
Another allegory is the attribution of Europe as theparadise by special placement of the water bodies.[8] As contemporary iconography depicted the paradise as a closed form,Europa regina is enclosed by seas and rivers.[8] TheDanube river is depicted in a way that it resembles the course of the biblical river flowing through the paradise, with its estuary formed by four arms.[8] ThatEuropa regina is surrounded by water is also an allusion to the mythological Europa, who was abducted by Zeus and carried over the water.[10]Europa regina belongs to the Early Modern allegory ofEuropa triumphans, as opposed toEuropa deplorans.[11]
Charlemagne (Latin:Carolus Magnus;King of the Franks from 768;Holy Roman Emperor c. 742 – 814), also known as Charles the Great, is considered the founder of theFrench andGerman monarchies. Known asPater Europae («Father of Europe»),[12][13] he establishedan empire that represented the most expansive European unification since thefall of the Western Roman Empire and brought abouta renaissance that formed a pan-European identity whilst marking the end ofLate Antiquity.[12][14] There was also a contemporary intellectual and cultural revival which profoundly marked the history of Western Europe. This gave Charlemagne a legendary standing that transcended his military accomplishments.[12][15][16]
For many centuries, European royal houses sought to associate themselves with the Carolingian heritage. The crowns of theHoly Roman Empire andNapoleon Bonaparte were for instance both respectively named "The Crown of Charlemagne", and Charlemagne's personal sword,Joyeuse, served as a coronation sword for French kings from the 11th century onwards.[17] The cult of Charlemagne was further embellished by the French renaissance authorJean Lemaire de Belges, who postulated that the emperor was part of an illustrioustranslatio imperii originating with KingPriam ofTroy during theTrojan Wars, and thus by extensionZeus, the "Father of Gods and men" inGreek Mythology.
Today, much of the pan-European, symbolic value of Charlemagne is attributed to the fact that he is considered an embodiment of the Franco-German friendship which was absent duringthe long-lasting enmity which culminated in the two world wars, but has become indispensable in the process ofEuropean integration. Thus, in the 1952 design competition for the Council of Europe's flag, several of the unsuccessful proposals were redolent of theOriflamme; the banner given to Charlemagne byPope Leo III at his coronation in theSt. Peter's Basilica in the year 800.[18][19] Similarities between Charlemagne's empire and the modern European integration were also suggested by professor Hans von Hentig the same year.[20] TheEuropean Commission is also alluding to Charlemagne by means of naming one of its central buildings in Brussels after him (TheCharlemagne building). The German city ofAachen has since 1949 annually awarded theCharlemagne Prize to champions of European unity, includingAlcide De Gasperi,Jean Monnet and theeuro itself. Each edition of the international affairs newspaperThe Economist features a column called «Charlemagne's notebook», focusing on European Union affairs.[21] In his speech at the award ceremony for the 2010Charlemagne Youth Prize,European Parliament PresidentJerzy Buzek said the following:[22]
Imagine, if you will, the age of Charlemagne, twelve hundred years ago. Already then, he had a vision of a united Europe. Just think how many wars there have been since then and how much European blood has been spilled. We were devoured by hatred. We were in the grip of our emotions. We were unable to think in common. People had a vision of a united Europe then, but did not achieve it. We must remember, my dear young friends, always to keep this vision in mind.
Later monarchs who also have carriedsobriquets as "relatives" of Europe includeQueen Victoria of the United Kingdom (grandmother of Europe),Christian IX of Denmark andNicholas I of Montenegro (both respectivelyfather-in-law of Europe). These late 19th and early 20th century sobriquets are however purely on account of the marriage of these monarchs' offspring to foreign princes and princesses, and involve no wider symbolism.
TheRoman Catholic Church venerates six saints as "patrons of Europe".Benedict of Nursia had been declared "Patron saint of all Europe" byPope Paul VI in 1964.[23]Pope John Paul II named between 1980 and 1999 Ss.Cyril and Methodius,Bridget of Sweden,Catherine of Siena andTeresa Benedicta of the Cross as co-patrons.[24][23]
A "Flag of Europe" was introduced by theCouncil of Europe in 1955, originally intended as a "symbol for the whole of Europe",[25] but due to its adoption by theEuropean Economic Community (EEC) in 1985, and hence by theEuropean Union (EU) as the successor organisation of the EEC, the flag is now strongly associated with the European Union so that it no longer serves the function of representing "Europe as a whole" at least since the early 2000s. The flag has notably been used by pro-EU protestors in thecolour revolutions of the 2000s, e.g., inBelarus in 2004[26] by the pro-EU faction in theEuromaidan riots in Ukraine in 2013, and by thepro-EU faction in theBrexit campaigns of 2016.
Prior to development of political institutions, flags representing Europe were limited to unification movements. The most popular were theEuropean Movement'slarge green 'E' on a white background, and the "Pan European flag" of thePaneuropean Union (1922).[27]
