Britannia

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/britannia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the roman depiction?Seated or reclining figure with spear and shield on 2nd-century AD coins
2. What is the symbolic transformation?Spear replaced by a trident around 1797 to represent naval power
3. Who is Britannia?Britannia is a lady who looks like a warrior and represents Britain. She is shown with a helmet, spear or trident, showing the strength of Britain.
4. Why does Britannia have a trident?The trident was added around 1797 to show that Britain’s navy was powerful. It makes her look like a goddess of the sea.

Personification: The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman.
Classical Antiquity: The period of history from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD, encompassing ancient Greece and Rome.
Allegory: A symbolic representation, often used in art and literature to convey abstract ideas or principles.
Maritime Power: A nation's strength and influence derived from its naval capabilities and shipping industry.