Costa Rica’s strength symbolized by woman
For nearly a century, Costa Rican nationals have seen their country represented as a strong, determined woman and the enemy as a yielding, downtrodden man
by Hubert Solano

The sentiments of freedom, democracy, and equality in Costa Rica are represented by five women who pose in a warlike attitude on top of the National Monument.

Every day many people, Costa Ricans and foreigners alike, arrive to see the National Monument that is located in San José’s Parque Nacional, on the north side of the Congress building.

Hardly anyone knows what this patriotic monument represents. It was, in fact, ordered to be built after the Costa Rican army triumphed over the U.S. soldiers who arrived in Central America to incorporate a rule of slavery and to annex the isthmus to the American Union. The war took place between 1865 and 1857 in the territories of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

When the fighting ended in Central America, many of these U.S. troops distinguished themselves in the Civil War in their own country, which took place the following decade.

On October 27, 1857, when the war with the U.S. had ended, the government of President Juan Rafael Mora released a decree ordering that a monument that would “remind of the triumphs obtained by our armed forces in Santa Rosa, Rivas and San Juan”, should be built in the Plaza Mayor, today the Parque Nacional.

But 38 years passed before that order was to become a reality. This was due to the overthrow of President Mora by José María Montealegre, whose government wanted none of their predecessor’s plans.

For the next 31 years there was no mention of this monument. Then in 1888, the decree “to honor the memory of the heroes to which national liberty is owed”, was made law.

Manuel María Peralta, Costa Rican ambassador to France, was given the task of looking in Paris for a sculptor capable of creating a suitable piece.

Luis Carrier Belleuse (1848-1913) was the artist finally chosen. He was ordered by the Costa Rican government to create a sculpture in bronze, on a pedestal with various figures. This artist was the maker of numerous busts of world famous figures.

The sculptor finished his piece in 1891, but four more years passed by before the statue arrived in Costa Rica. As part of the Independence Day festivities, on September 15, 1895, the National Monument was inaugurated. As the statue was uncovered, Costa Ricans saw for the first time the images of seven people, five of the people were women who stood in warlike positions, the other two, images of downtrodden men. The women represented the five Central American nations.

At the front of the group, one woman stands apart, symbolizing the leadership shown by Costa Rica in the war. Besides holding the national flag, she also wears a freedom cap, a symbol of liberty in the French revolution.

The woman representing Costa Rica is supporting another woman with a broken sword. This represents Nicaragua. Next to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the remaining three women carry other arms: El Salvador, the sword; Honduras, spears and shield; and Guatemala, an axe. All the arms are carried by the women are from the colonial period and represent a united attitude against foreign invasion.

The sixth figure is the leader of the U.S. soldiers, William Walker. He is seen to be giving in to the women. He seems to be hiding his face in a defense attitude. The last figure a fallen soldier symbolizes the defeat of the invaders.

An image is carved into each of the fours sides of the pedestal. These represent the Battle of Santa Rosa (March 20, 1856), the Rivas Battle (April 11, 1856), the taking of the steamboats on the San Juan river and the leaders of Costa Rican army during this war.

In 1921, as part of the centennial celebrations of the Independence of Costa Rica, the famous teacher Joaquín García Monge, spoke to a group of students from the Colegio de Señoritas who were participating in the celebrations. Standing at the foot of the Monument, he said: “This monument is a symbol. In it the fighting patriots of yesterday, represented by women, stand tall and indignant, to teach us that you are your country.

Swear at the foot the National Monument, with a clear conscience, that you will be the maintainers and saviors of the Nation. That at the end of the day, the way to the heart of a nation becomes upset, disillusioned and eventually dies”. Since then, Costa Rican women have begun to take an undoubtedly strong stance in the leadership of Costa Rica.