 In 1782, US Congress selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the newly formed
United States, because it symbolized courage and might, and because
it was indigenous only to the United
States and to Canada.
The national seal depicts the bald eagle with its wings spread,
with one claw clutching an olive branch, and the other claw grasping
arrows. The eagle, however, strikes different poses on other
national depictions.
The bald eagle owes its name to the early American colonists, and
is bald in name only. As the white-headed American eagle differed
from the European gray eagle, the colonists used their word for
white, which translated into bald, in describing it. Unfortunately
for the eagle, the literal translation, bald-headed, stuck like a
toupee.
Since ancient times, men have identified themselves with the
eagle, because it creates an impression of majesty and of power
while in flight. As early as 5,000 years ago, ancient Sumerians
chose the eagle, in spread eagle form, as their emblem symbolizing
their power. Ancient Romans followed
suit, as did Emperor Charlemagne, and finally Napoleon. No
doubt, Congress considered the eagle's historical pedigree as being the animal representing a
nation's power, when selecting it to be the national emblem of the
United States.
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note:
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bald eagle: 秃头鹰
indigenous: 本土的
toupee: 假发
follow suit:
跟着做
pedigree: 血统
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