Hammonia

Hammonia is the neo-Latin name for the city of Hamburg. As a pictorial allegory in the form of a female figure the Hammonia represents the city of Hamburg ( Stadtallegorie ). As linguistic allegory in literature, poetry and song text is the name Hammonia representative ( as a synonym ) for the name Hamburg or refers to just those female figure.

In addition to the use of the name and its representation in art also lead numerous associations, companies and products, and the name thus showing a connection to Hamburg. Similarly, ships, an office building in Moenckebergstraße, the Hammonia -Bad on the mouth Castle, in the football national league Hamburg the season Hammonia and the asteroid Hammonia were so named.

Despite the versatile use of the name in the last few centuries to the present day, the exact origin of the name is unclear, especially since the actual Latin City Name or mostly Hamburgum Hammaburgum is in the medieval chronicles.

Formation

In a written in Latin document from the year 834 by Pope Gregory IV first appeared on the city name as Hamaburg which was derived from the 845 destroyed Hammaburg. Excavations suggest that this, at least in writing occupied building ( its location is still unclear ), already had one or more previous, because the Saxons inhabited the Geest - back between the Alster and Bille in the centuries before. This allows even the old Saxon word hamme / ham, bring to a projecting in the marching higher, wooded grounds on the banks of the river or swamp, with this situation in line. Deeds name in the 14th century a forest than Hamm.

In the Middle Ages the name undergoes a series of variants like: Hamm castle (12th century), Hamborch ( 1232), Hamburg ( 1236 ), Hamm Burch (first city seal ), where Hamborch and Hamborg still exist as a notation in the Low German language. Addition, there are alternating Latin names: Hamburgum, Hammaburgum, Hamburga, Hammipolis, Hammonis castrum, urbs Jovis.

The last names in this case have to go to a development to give an entirely different meaning to the city name. Thus, means nothing more than the city of Jupiter Jovis urbs. Already in 1370 writes Henry of Herford, through the establishment of a bishopric in the castle of Hammon. Again, Hammon stands for the Roman god Jupiter (see also the Egyptian god Amun, or Ammon, who is among the Romans to Jupiter). Hinrich Boger immortalized Hamburg in 1478 as the city of Hammon in a poem. It thus comes at a time of burgeoning German humanism in the example must serve the goddess Luna for Lüneburg as eponym. In vain, however, had Albert Krantz, who strives " historian of the North" to refute this nonsensical Jupiter dissipation. Another dubious derivation appoint a Hammon (also Hamy, Hamoys ) as alleged deity of the Saxons. However, it is believed that this God did not exist around the cities of Hamburg and Hamm to lend his name, but rather a local god was invented because Jupiter was many but too far-fetched.

With the reformation begins, the role of Mary, to fade as the actual Christian patron saint of the city. They eventually disappears in the second half of the 17th century by the Hamburg coins. She was the St. Mary's Cathedral consecrated and the two Mary Star of the Hamburg coat of arms are to bear their names. At the same time probably the desire for an identity- figure grows as the representative and patron of the city.

1624 is an engraver, of Hamburg for the first time is as a woman. In the following centuries, this female figure appears again and again as a decorative accessory on city views and maps in the taste of the time. Finally, the name Hammonia appeared on February 21, 1710 for the first time on writing. In a cantata for the Petri meal ( dinner at the annual redistribution of offices in the Senate ) calls the poet Barthold Heinrich Brockes Hammonia, the patron goddess of the city. This Hamburg now had his Nationalallegorie found.

See also: Nationalallegorie Germania, Bavaria, Berolinahaus, Saxonia (Saxony ), etc.

Representation

The figure of Hammonia is usually depicted with a crenellated wall crown, the remaining attributes that accompany the female character change. Some of them bears the coat of arms, in part, the caduceus, sometimes it is also an anchor or a steering wheel added.

Music

The resulting 1828 Hamburg anthem is sometimes called Hammonia because the chorus is: salvation through you, healing over you, Hammonia, Hammonia! . One of the most famous songs of the cult Hamburg Heidi cable is: " Hammonia - My Hamburg, I love you."