Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-26
The Eagle as an Emblem.

Amongst most wlrrior-peope the eagle has
been fAvorte emblem. 10 mythology and his
tory II is everywhere present. With outstretched
wings and flashing eyes it seems to dominate over
The whole world of fable, always sacred, always
yenerated even feared, for in its grasp the light
niugs kindle But, says French essayist, It is
above all aS the protector that it appearsto pro-
tect and to save being the privileges Of power
and strength. The eagle saved Helen, when the
knife Of the priests thirsed for the blood of the
victim It saved Valeria Lupera, when dragged
to the altar Of sacrifice Thus strong and immor-
tai, it was everywhere the enemy Of death, every
where the winged symbol Of that existence which
is without end
Among the Persans, Mthra, or the sun-god,
wishing 10 reveal himself in visible form, as
sumed the figure Of an eaglej and this image,
soulptured in gold, Cyrus placed on the crest Of
his triumphant standards.
The Romans adopted the eagle symbol at an
early period Of their history. At first, according
to Donyeius Of Hallcarnassus, they crowned 1t to
the sceptre Of their kings afterwards when they
had topped down the throne, they made it the
ornament Of the scsptre OF their warrior-chiefs,
and the only ensign Of their legions.
Under the republic, The Roman eagle was
carved in wood then in silver, with thunder
bolt Of gold in its talons. Caesar was the first
who had the whole cast in god but be deprived
il Of the thunderbolt on which it had hitherto
rested To mark his indefatigabe activity, and
his constant yearning after new conquests, the
Romans always represented Ce'srs eagle with
oulstretched wings as if seeking to enclose the
entire world in the grasp OF its shadow.
Each legion had It's golden eagle poised at the
point OF a lance. They regarded it with the most
religious veneration they made oath by it as by
divinity and these oaths were made peculiarly
sacred. The warrior-bird preserved even there
bis protecting characters the guilty soldier, on
The point Of being smtten by the centurons
TX, the prisoner doomed to death, might obtain
NE and pardon if they placed themselves under
he safeguard Of the eagle, by casping closely
the lance of the standard-bearer.
On the days Of the triumph of successful gen.
erals, the eagle Was adorned with all the garni-
iure Of vctoy-wIlh crowns Of laurel and gar
lands Of h)wen. When legion pitched its
camp, the eage was placed in its centre and IL
II happened that two legions encamped together
thsy erected upon the limits Of the two camps
double eagle, with heads and wings opposed.
IL Roman army we're defeated, the eagle was
not suffered to fall into the hands Of the enemy;
When TIE slandard-bearer saw the rout begin, 10
broke bis lance in twain, and buried in the earth
that portion which was crowned by the imperial
symbol This took place after the fatal battle Of
Lake Ihrasymene; and we owe TO such precau.
ton tue only egionary eagle that has been pre-
served to our times. |: was found in Germany,
on the a1d Of the Collt d Erlaeh: is of bronze
gllt, three inches high, and weighs eight pounds.
II IS supposed to have belonged to the 22d e-
gIon, which being sorely pressed in battle with
ne Alemanni, the eagle.bearer, before be took to
light concealed IA the earth the precious symbol
to his care.