Virginia Motto
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Virginia’s official state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis” which is Latin for “Thus Always to Tyrants.” It features on the state seal and state flag of Virginia. To understand what the state motto means it is pertinent to look at the state’s seal which depicts the Roman goddess, Virtus dressed as an Amazon with a sheathed sword in one hand and a spear in the other. One of her feet is on the depiction of Tyranny who is pictured with a broken chain in his left hand, a scourge in his
right, and his fallen crown nearby. Virtus represents the genius of the Commonwealth and the image shows that the struggle has ended in complete victory over Tyranny and that is always how it shall be.