Phoenix, Front Gate of City Hall - Portland, ME
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NorStar
N 43° 39.551 W 070° 15.436
19T E 398624 N 4834788
The phoenix on top of the Portland city seal and slogan, "Resurgam," meaning, "I will rise again," is in reference to the fact that Portland has survived several major fires in its existence, and a fire that destroyed the previous city hall.
Waymark Code: WM79TD
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 09/24/2009
Views: 9
At the intersection of Congress Street and Exchange Street, on top of a gate above the front entrance to the Portland City Hall, is the city seal, which features a golden phoenix with wings spread at the top. Below the seal is a word, "Resurgam," Latin for "I will rise again." The phoenix and this word are reminders of the times that Portland had suffered through several major fires, and today is a vibrant city.
Following are some notable fires of Portland:
1676 - The settlement, then called Falmouth, was attacked and burned down by local Native American Indians. The inhabitants abandoned the settlement and it remained abandoned until 1716.
October 18, 1775 - British warships shelled the settlement of Falmouth and during the night parties landed and set fire to buildings.
July 4, 1866 - The Great Fire of 1866, wiped out the commercial district and much of the city, yet no one was killed.
January 25, 1908 - Portland City Hall Fire, which totally destroyed the building, yet, despite the fact that there was a function with 700 people in the adjoining municipal auditorium, no one was injured.
The phoenix is a firebird symbol that originated in Phoenician mythology but spread to the Egyptian and Greek mythologies. It lives 500-1000 years and then builds a nest, sits on it, and ignites it so that the flames consume it. Then, when the fires expire, a new bird is born and rises out of the ashen nest.
Sources:
Wikipedia Articles -
Phoenix
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Portland, ME
GenDisasters.com - Portland City Hall Fire:
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American Guide Series: Maine - A Guide 'Down East':
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