War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
_The Official Description._--"Both sides of the medal are treated
allegorically, except the central part of the obverse, which represents
the busts of the four allied Sovereigns, the Prince Regent, Emperor of
Austria, Emperor of Russia, and King of Prussia, grouped together in
profile. Around this group of actual portraits the figures constitute
an allegorical and mythological allusion to the treaty of peace
which was consequent upon the great triumph on the field of battle.
The summit of the surrounding groupings presents Apollo in his car
restoring the day. The rainbow zephyr and Iris follow the chariot of
the sun in succession, but the zephyr is tending towards the earth, and
scattering flowers, as the emblem of peace and tranquillity.
"On the opposite side, the car of Apollo is seen closely approaching
the constellation Gemini, personified, as usual, by a pair of graceful
youths, indicating the month in which the great contest took place.
Castor and Pollux, each armed with spears, are intended to elucidate
the apotheosis of Wellington and Blucher. Themis, the goddess of
justice, appears on earth, as in the Golden Age. This figure is placed
in front of the profile busts of the Sovereigns, to show that Justice
is a greater security to government than Power. The goddess is seated
on a rock; a palm-tree waves over her head; she is prepared to reward
virtue with its branches in one hand, and in the other holds a sword
for the ready punishment of crime. Power is personified by a robust
man of mature age, bearded, and armed with a club; he is seated under
an oak-tree, and forms the corresponding figure, at the back of the
group of busts of the Allied Sovereigns, to that of Justice facing it.
Beneath Themis the Fates are introduced, to indicate that henceforward
human actions will be controlled by Justice alone. These actions and
passions are represented by the Furies, which, being placed beneath the
emblematical figure of Power, are subjected to its influence, and no
longer suffered to quit the infernal regions, or Cimmerian caverns, in
which, at the base of this side of the medal, the allegory is completed
by the figure of Night, the mother of the Fates, receding into darkness
from the ruling daylight of Phœbus' car on the summit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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