Virginia

The flag of Virginia, in the United States, is a dark blue background with the state’s official seal inspired from the old seal in 1776^[2] placed in the center of the flag. The flag was unofficially adopted in 1861 and readopted after the Confederacy in 1912, standardized in 1950. The flag was designed by Charles Keck.

History[]

Seal makers did not want a design which in any way resembled the style of coats of arms used in Great Britain. Because of the admiration for the Roman Republic felt by the Virginian leaders, the design of the new seal was taken from the mythology of Ancient Rome. They also chose a two-sided design, as shown above.

Confederate Virginia[]

The flag of Virginia between 1861 and 1865 (the first flag) was a plain light indigo background with the state's former seal placed in the center of the flag. The flag was rarely ever used, but was official and accepted. The flag from the Confederacy shows no nudity, instead metal armor and two ribbons above and below reading, "VIRGINIA", and below, "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS", the state motto.

In the present-day, the flag is used as a remembrance for the Confederacy.

Second flag (1931-1950)[]

The second flag of Virginia was a plain dark blue background with the former unstandardized state seal placed in the center of the flag, smaller than the current flag has.

The flag was officially adopted in 1931 and relinquished in 1950, being replaced by the current flag when the current state seal was standardized. The flag was designed by an unknown author.

Symbolism[]

The Latin motto, "Sic semper tyrannis," at the bottom of the state seal means "Thus Always to Tyrants." This quote is attributed to Brutus during the assassination of Julius Caesar in Rome. The woman is "Virtus the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon" and represents Virginia. The prostrate man represents tyranny; note the fallen crown to the right. The Tyrant is holding both a chain and a scourge. ^{[citation needed]}

Criticism[]

The secretary of the commonwealth decided in 1901 that the state seal lacked artistic grace and beauty overall and also easily depicted a more manly goddess. Their solution was to add some visible, clearly defined breasts of a woman.^[3]

Trivia[]

It is the only American state flag to represent any form of nudity and murder.

References[]

VexiWiki has a design page for:
Virginia

[1] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_and_seal_of_Virginia

[2] ttps://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-va.html

[3] ttps://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/05/26/why-theres-an-exposed-breast-on-the-virginia-state-flag

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