Rotunda Chandelier
The 3,500 pound Rotunda Chandelier has twelve sides with each of the zodiac signs depicted. There are suns depicted above and below the zodiacs with various corn elements all around the chandelier.
Onyx Balcony Railings
The hand-carved onyx railings on the balcony of the Rotunda feature a variety of Nebraska iconography. On the edges are stalks of corn, and in the center is a carving of a western meadowlark (the state bird), and a bison skull.
Acropolis of Greece
The Acropolis of Greece depicts Erechtheus and the goddess Athena resting in front of the Acropolis of Athens. Athena is depicted resting her arm on a shield bearing her owl insignia while Erechtheus is wearing a laurel wreath on his head, his left arm outstretched with part of his toga draped over his torso. His…
Capitol Hill in Rome
Capitol Hill in Rome depicts the god Jupiter in the foreground who is lounging and holding a scepter. Behind him are Roman monuments, architecture, ships, and an Eagle with spread wings. Capitol Hill in Rome is located in front of the Warner Chamber and represents the foundation of modern democracies that sprung from Roman times….
Human Existence
This piece is the culmination of the progression of life as you pass from the Genius of Creative Energy through the vestibule and rotunda. Human Existence depicts a young family on a fertile landscape. The mother and father hold the arms of the child taking his first steps. Human Existence is a literal name and…
Genius of Air
The Genius of Air depicts a man riding on a cloud flying through the air. Birds cross in front of and behind the Genius of Air. The Geniuses and Mother Earth on the Rotunda Floor are circled by various prehistoric animals. To accurately depict these animals, Meière relied on Erwin H. Barbour, a paleontologist and…
Genius of Earth
The Genius of Earth depicts a man who rests his hand on the earth with a large hammer raised overhead. The Geniuses and Mother Earth on the Rotunda Floor are circled by various prehistoric animals. To accurately depict these animals, Meière relied on Erwin H. Barbour, a paleontologist and the Director of the University of…
Genius of Fire
The Genius of Fire depicts a man that rends apart stone with his hands, back, and feet as flames shoot up in the background and the foreground. The Genius of Fire displays the strength of a volcano that is able to move earth. The Geniuses and Mother Earth on the Rotunda Floor are circled by…
Genius of Water
Located in the Rotunda, the Genius of Water depicts a man gently holding a fish, his hair appears to float. The geniuses located on the Rotunda floor are meant to represent the 4 classic elements. The Geniuses and Mother Earth on the Rotunda Floor are circled by a variety of prehistoric animals. To accurately depict…
Vital Energy
Vital Energy depicts a winged figure kneeling on the landscape with his arms outstretched. His hands are open and he casts seeds and flowers out across the landscape. Life springs beneath him. Vital Energy is the life-giving force of the universe. The floor mosaics in the Nebraska State Capitol were painstakingly executed by Sunderland Brothers….
