The symbol of "Marianne" represents the spirit of France amd a symbol of freedom or liberty. It is very popular and is used on stamps, coins and statues. It has very ancient origins dating back to Roman times 2000 years ago!.

On her head, Marianne wears a special hat called a "Phrygian cap". It was worn by freed slaves during the Roman era. It showed that they were now Roman citizens and, therefore, were free people. Thus, the cap became a symbol of freedom or liberty.

During the French Revolution in 1789, the figure of a woman dressed as a warrior wearing this "cap of Liberty" came to symbolise the idea that freedom was worth fighting for.

People adopted the idea of wearing a special hat - the "Cap of Liberty"- to indicate their support for revolutionary ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity (Brotherhood). The revolutionary Cap of Liberty was bright red.

The pictures of Marianne wearing the Cap of Liberty are very popular on stamps and coins.

It was during the French Revolution that the figure was named. People suggestedthat since the symbol represented the freedom of ordinary people, it should bear the most common name given to the women of the ordinary people - Marie-Anne. This later became "Marianne".

During the nineteenth century, the symbol of Marianne became more and more popular to symbolise the Republic of France.

Marianne is one of the most commonly used icons on French stamps. There are statues of Marianne on public buildings. If you look carefully at the sculptures on the outside of the Arc De Triomphe you can see a victorious Marianne leading the French army.