Once depicted by a 19th century artist as a 'mother' of another country's 'founders' this example of personification has also been queried regarding the origin of the namesake. One idea suggested a connection to tyranny, the other toward the wife of a diplomat. What is it, who was the artist, and how does a male chicken connect with it?

queproblema

Simply, the example is Marianne, the artist is Honore Daumier, and the "Coq Gaulois" is another symbol of the same thing. Less simply, Daumier depicted Marianne, symbol of France and personification of Liberty and Reason, as the mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. (Think "she-wolf" here.) http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/histoire/mariannes/marianne_mere.asp Some say Marianne's name came from Juan de Mariana, a proponent of tyrannicide; others that she was named for the wife of Jean Reubell, an envoy to the Rhineland and holder of a series of political positions. There are several other stories of the origin of her name. http://www.languedoc-france.info/06141211_marianne.htm "Gallic Rooster" comes from the fact that in Latin "Gaul" and "rooster" are both "gallus." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallic_rooster I think all but one of my will be found in the above links. Three's a crowd! Dec 13 07, 1:02 AM

peasypod

Well done qp, a Golden Coq for you.... Yeah, an easy but a goodie, and yes Frankie a behind-the-scenes Banana for you too, m'dear. Dec 13 07, 3:03 AM