The following are some aspects of Greek and Roman mythology. How they relate to the “Statue of Liberty” (SOL) and its location on “Liberty Island” is given in italics.

Demeter’s daughter Persephone was abducted by the god Hades. During the ensuing frantic search for her daughter, Demeter used a torch to peer into the Gate of Hell to look for her. As we know, the SOL is carrying a torch in her right hand. There is a “gate of hell” in New York City (a narrow tidal strait in the East River known as the Hell Gate).

In the Demeter cult, there is a triple aspect to the goddess Demeter, a feminine “trinity” not unlike the male trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit in the New Testament of the Bible. The personages of this triple aspect are Persephone, Demeter, and Hera; or sometimes Persephone, Demeter, and Hecate (representing maiden, matron, and crone) combined in the triple goddess Hecate Triformis. Demeter is represented in the green color of the SOL; Persephone is represented by the torch; and Hera is represented by the tiara-like crown on the head of the SOL.

Statues of Hecate Triformis were placed in crossroads, and sacrifices to the goddess would be left near the statues of her. The SOL stands in a three-way crossroad formed by the Upper Bay, the Hudson River, and the East River.

The only place in the ancient world where the god Hades was worshipped was a place called Elis (as in Elysian Fields). The SOL stands right next to “Ellis” Island (nearly the same pronunciation).

Combining these co-located symbols yields the following: the “Statue of Liberty” represents Demeter and/or Hecate Triformis. The sacrifices made to her and dropped off at this three-way crossroads were the immigrants who entered through Ellis Island. This suggests that they also were sacrifices to the god Hades, perhaps in return for allowing Persephone to spend more time with her mother.

Emma Lazarus wrote that the SOL lifts her lamp beside the golden door. The golden door to what?