Victory (Victoria) and Asteroid 12 Victoria – Manchester, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 28.848 W 002° 14.140
30U E 550722 N 5926028
12 Victoria is a large main-belt asteroid, originally named after Queen Victoria. It was changed to be officially named after the Roman Goddess Victoria, otherwise known as Victory.
Waymark Code: WMDRX7
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/20/2012
Views: 2
The Asteroid
The asteroid was discovered on September 13th 1850 by J.R. Hind of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London. http://cosmicdiary1894.blogspot.com/2009/02/jr-hind.html
He chose the name during the reign of Queen Victoria, but it was felt to be inappropriate to have the asteroid named after a living monarch.
However W. C. Bond, of the Harvard College Observatory held that the mythological condition was fulfilled and the name stayed as it was.
It has a diameter of 112.77 km, an orbital speed of 9.5 km/s and an orbital period of 3.57 Julian Years. It is the joint 117th largest known asteroid.
The Roman Goddess Victoria
In ancient Roman religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory especially over death and determined who would be successful during war. She was normally worshipped by triumphant generals returning from war.
As such she is being used here to represent Wellington’s successful military career. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_(mythology)
The Statue
Victory (The Roman Goddess Victoria) is one of four allegorical figures at each corner of the base of the main statue of the Duke of Wellington.
The statue was unveiled on 30th August 1856 to commemorate the life of the Duke of Wellington.
The Duke had been a hugely successful military commander who had fought in 60 different battles. He was especially loved in the UK for his defeat of the French and especially Napoleon Bonaparte.
In recognition of his successes in battle he won many awards and tiles both in the UK and in other countries in Europe. His highest titles were Duke of Wellington in the U.K., Duke of Vitoria in Portugal, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Prince of Waterloo in The Netherlands.
He was also one of those rare people who went on after a successful military career to also have a successful political career. He was Prime Minister of the U.K. twice and then went on to become a Peer in the UK’s upper house, the House of Lords.
The city of Manchester had decided within 4 days of Wellington’s death that they wished to erect a statue and announced a competition.
The chosen design by Matthew Noble shows Wellington as a Politician giving a speech with 4 allegorical figures, representing four aspects of his life.
Mars, the God of War, sword in hand, exemplifying valour.
Minerva, representing wisdom.
Victory, holding a wreath of oak leaves in her right hand.
Peace, holding an olive branch, a cornucopia at her feet.
Website of the Extraterrestrial Location: [Web Link]
Website of location on Earth: [Web Link]
Celestial Body: Asteroid
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