Laura E. Cortner

About the Author

Laura E. Cortner is a historian and author whose work bridges the gap between ancient myth and modern American identity. With a PhD in classical studies from Yale University, she has dedicated her career to uncovering the hidden influences of goddess worship in the founding of the United States. Her debut book, The Secret Life of Lady Liberty: Goddess in the New World, explores the symbolic roots of the Statue of Liberty as a modern incarnation of ancient deities, revealing how Enlightenment thinkers drew from Greco-Roman traditions to craft a new national icon. Cortner's meticulous research and engaging narrative style make complex historical intersections accessible and fascinating, inviting readers to reconsider the spiritual undercurrents of American democracy. She lives in New York City, where she continues to lecture and write on cultural history.