The Statue of Liberty was originally meant
to look like an Arab peasant and to be at the entrance of the Suez Canal in
Egypt and her flame was to symbolize the light she was bringing to Asia.
The sculptor, Barthaldi, fell in love with
the Middle East and all it entailed in 1855. Barthaldi returned to Egypt in
1869 with the blueprint of giant statue of a woman that would double as a
lighthouse at the entrance of the Suez Canal.
Egypt wasn’t reaping any of the monetary
benefits of the canal even though it was located in Egypt. Barthaldi realized
that he could never put his statue in Egypt, because they didn’t have the
financial means.
He was heartbroken and sailed to New York.
As his ship entered New York Harbor, Barthaldi spotted the deserted, oval island
of Bedloe. It was perfect for his statue. The French and the Americans were
friends and between the two of them, they paid for statue. The statue was
revamped and sent to the U.S.
