The Atlanta City Seal
The city of Atlanta, Georgia, was founded as a settlement around railroads transporting cotton, and later became an important hub for transporting Confederate Army supplies during the Civil War (Ambrose). This very war left the city devastated in 1864, when General William T. Sherman burned the city to cut the Confederate supply transportation (Ambrose). Yet, by the end of the war, in 1865, Atlanta was rebuilt, and would later become the hub of the South (Ambrose). Evidence of Atlanta’s rich history is found everywhere in the city, both explicitly through museums such as the Atlanta History Center and in more subtle details such as the contrast between old and new buildings. But perhaps the greatest symbol of Atlanta’s history is found embedded in water meter covers, lampposts and government buildings throughout the town: the Atlanta City Seal.
The seal is composed of three main parts: frames, outer circle, and inner circle. The frames consist of what appear to be two aligned layers of red and white bead chains, circling around the seal. These chains establish an outer circle, containing the words “resurgens” (Latin word for “rising again”) in blue on the top, “Atlanta, GA” in blue on the bottom, and the dates 1847 and 1865 in the left and right respectively, colored red. An inner circle is drawn featuring a sky blue and white background, with a grey phoenix depicted emerging from flames. The multiple parts of the seal evidence Atlanta’s history, and the Atlanta City Seal uses contextual information through words and symbolism through its colors and the phoenix to reflect the city’s commitment to unity and growth.
The words inscribed in the outer circle evidence Atlanta’s commitment to growth and unity by establishing a historical context. The year on the left, 1847, is also closely related to the name of the city, Atlanta, GA, inscribed in the bottom. 1847 refers to the year Atlanta gained this very name. In its first years, the settlement was named Terminus, and as it became a town, the location was named Marthasville (Ambrose). In December 29 1847, however, Atlanta gained its name and was incorporated as a city (“Georgia History Timeline Chronology for December 29”). Thus, the year 1847 is full of historical value as Atlanta emerged as a city from an old town that grew and changed its name. The name Atlanta and the year in which the city was incorporated are, therefore, an expression of its growth over time.
Another set of words inscribed in the seal is of great importance to understanding Atlanta’s ambitious values: the year 1865 on the right corner, closely related to the Latin word “resurgens” inscribed on the top. After Atlanta was burned to the ground in 1864, the city was left barren and bankrupt, but quickly recovered through its citizens’ efforts in the following year (Ambrose). 1865 marks the year in which Atlanta began to rebuild itself, growing and rising again as the word “resurgens” implies. In fact, the same year has an even deeper meaning as it marks the end of the Civil War and Georgia’s ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment ending slavery (“Georgia History Timeline Chronology for December 6”). 1865 is therefore not only the year of a city’s recovery, but also the year which symbolically brought unity and equality to a fractured state and nation. Thus, through the words inscribed in it, the Atlanta City Seal establishes historical context and credibility, evidencing the city’s goals of growth and unity.
In addition to contextual clues, the seal displays Atlanta’s values of growth and unity through its symbols, the first of which is found its color choice for the frames and outer circle. With the frames alternating between red and white and the words in the outer circle colored red and blue, Atlanta’s seal colors closely resemble the colors of the American Flag. This allusion to perhaps what is the supreme symbol of the United States evokes the idea of patriotism, which is essentially used to unite the citizens under the love for their country. In fact, this concept is even stronger when considering Atlanta’s past during the Civil War, bringing to light the need to unite the citizens after a war that tore the United States apart both physically and ideologically. With its color choice, the symbol evidences that Atlantans are united by the love for their country and, at a local level, their love for the city.
Finally, Atlanta’s seal shows the values of expansion and union through the figure of the phoenix. In the inner circle, an ash-grey phoenix is depicted emerging from the fire, alluding to the Greek mythology, in which the bird emerges from the ashes of its predecessor. The mythical animal is a symbol of renewal and growth. Atlanta chose the legendary creature as its symbol, as the city grows from the ashes. Atlanta’s expansion is illustrated to an even greater extent in the seal, as it is noted that the flying phoenix’s wings are drawn and exceed the inner circle’s borders. This symbolizes a city that not only re-emerged from the ashes, but also continues to improve and go beyond its borders. Moreover, since the bird is drawn resembling an eagle, the phoenix depicted in the seal denotes the Atlantan goal for unity. By once more appealing to an American patriotic figure, the Atlanta City Seal emphasizes the need to be united as a nation. Conclusively, the seal’s symbols, through both colors and the phoenix, evidence Atlanta’s core values of growth and unity.
Therefore, through allusions to historical events and the symbolism present in its colors and depiction of the phoenix, the Atlanta City Seal transmits Atlanta’s values: unity, by remaining strong through fire and flames and by promoting American citizenship, and growth, by re-emerging from the devastation and fire brought by war and prospering as a city from its foundation onwards, and by going beyond its boundaries with every new day. With its unity and growth, Atlanta shines as the hub of the South, and the fire of destruction brought by the war become today the city’s flames of hope and prosperity. The phoenix rose from the ashes, and continues to fly onwards.
Works Cited
Ambrose, Andy. “Atlanta.” New Georgia Encyclopedia, 4 August 2016, http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/atlanta . Accessed 6 February2017.
Atlanta City Seal. Atlanta. City of Atlanta Government, https://www.facebook.com/cityofatlanta/photos/a.218855621600379.1073741837.129850377167571/684520148367255/?type=1&theater . Accessed 6 February 2017.
“Georgia History Timeline Chronology for December 6.” Our Georgia History, http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/date/December_6. Accessed 6 February 2017.
“Georgia History Timeline Chronology for December 29.” Our Georgia History, http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/date/December_29 . Accessed 6 February 2017.