Helvetia

Helvetia is derived from the tribe of the Helvetii neo-Latin name for Switzerland and an allegorical female figure, which symbolizes the Switzerland.

Helvetia first emerged in the 17th century as a bundled from the Kantonsallegorien female figure and role model for the Confederation on: 1672 brought Johann Caspar Weissenbach his piece Eydtgenossisch Contrafeth Auff and Abnemmender virgins Helvetiae on stage. He and several artists who simultaneously Helvetia represented pictorially, created a new role model for the unity of the Confederation in times of divisiveness primarily by religious disputes. This also witnessed by the increase in self-confidence after the Confederates, the Peace of Westphalia ( 1648) had been granted by the Holy Roman Empire " freedom and exemption ".

With the growing national consciousness in the 19th century and the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848 Helvetia gained in importance. She appeared on coins and stamps and in political and patriotic presentations. To this day, the image of Helvetia is located on the coins to ½, 1 and 2 francs (standing). The portrait on the coins of 5, 10 and 20 centimes depicts contrary to popular belief not Helvetia, but the Libertas.

On stamps and coins until today " Helvetia " is used as country name, because so none of the four national languages ​​( German, French, Italian, Romansh ) of Switzerland is preferred. For the same reason the Latin country code CH is selected, the abbreviation for Confoederatio Helvetica, Swiss Confederation.

Trivia

The sculpture is " Helvetia traveling ", which was made in 1980 by the Basel artist Bettina gauge at the middle bridge in Basel ( Kleinbasler side of the river ).