The Paris 2024 mascots are small Phrygian caps which embody a strong symbol of liberty for France and the world. As the Paris 2024 Games approach, the Phryges are joining the people of France for a new revolution: a revolution of sport!

The Phrygian Cap

A symbol of liberty, embodying French values and spirit, the famous Phrygian cap directly inspired the mascots of Paris 2024. An international symbol of liberty worn by freed slaves in Rome and appearing on many different emblems in North and South America alike, the Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap, has also become one of the symbols of the French Republic. Today, it represents a common reference for French people: in art (as a metaphor for freedom), within French institutions symbolic of the Republic, worn by Marianne in every town hall and it even features on everyday objects such as coins and stamps.

The Phryges legend Our Phryges have been around for a long time, with generation after generation succeeding each other for thousands of years. Legend has it that Phryges have stood alongside the French at numerous landmark moments in our nation’s history. Some might even say that the earliest traces of the Phryges were found on the walls of the Lascaux cave, in Southwestern France, showing that they were around at the time of the Neolithic revolution!

They are known to have been present in 1789, supporting the French people as they led a revolution that would change the face of our country. Others claim that they were also there at the side of the impressionist painters when they started a major artistic revolution at the end of the 19th century. Finally, more recently, Phryges students are said to have been spotted in Boulevard Saint-Germain in May 1968, taking part in a cultural revolution. Today, a new generation of Phryges is back !