The Goddess is Hebe, not Hygeia

                                   118 Year Old Case of Mistaken Identity

A while back, I posted a photo I took of a statue in Manitou Springs. I named her "Lady of Light". That's not really her name, and although she has been known as Hygeia, Goddess of Health, in Manitou Springs for the past 118 years, that's not really her name either! It was recently discovered by Manitou Springs historian, Deborah Harrison, that the statue, given to the town in 1890 by mineral water bottling magnate, Jerome Wheeler, was misnamed by him, and everyone else over the years.

Marble Statue in Copenhagen

Harrison, visiting a museum in Copenhagen, discovered the truth when she spotted a marble statue of Hebe, Goddess of Eternal Youth, the spitting image of Manitou's Hygeia. With one exception. The Hebe in Copenhagen had an exposed breast.

The zinc statue was mass produced by a New York company, (the fully covered version), and other such statues can be seen in Baton Rouge, New York, and Wisconsin.

                                                                                                         Zinc statue in Manitou Springs

Hebe is the goddess of youth, and is daughter of Zeus and Hera. Her special tasks are pouring the nectar of the gods, preparing Ares' bath, and helping Hera to her chariot. Her symbol is a cup. She was the wife of Hercules.

"And mighty Heracles, the valiant son of neat-ankled Alemena, when he had finished his grievous toils, made Hebe the child of great Zeus and gold-shod Hera his shy wife in snowy Olympus. Happy he! For he has finished his great works and lives amongst the dying gods, untroubled and unaging all his days."

The City of Manitou Springs will soon have lots of Hebe's scattered about town, as in celebration, 15 small statues have been ordered for local artists to decorate. They will later be sold at auction.

Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced without express written permission.  Memories DVDs Photo Slideshow DVD and Web Presentations, "Real Estate Showcase", to assist with marketing and advertising endeavors. More affordable, more interesting, and more captivating than a virtual tour!