It is a little weird that it is me, an Italian, to talk of Virginia and of its
unique seal. But it is relevant that someone recapitulates the basic facts as this is a serious tread and not only US guys (gals) access to it. Soon the Aussies will wake up and they also would be interested. What I know of Virginia I learned from Michener, and from brief visits in the Chesapeake region.
Virginia was one of the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution, it is home to the oldest legislature in the Americas.
The seal that we are considering (alas, in our funny ways) has quite a bit of history. In May 1776 the Virginia colony declared its independence from Great Britain. On July 1, 1776, a committee was appointed to make a proper seal for Virginia.
The female figure of Virtus represents the genius of the new Commonwealth. Virtus is
typically shown with a bare left breast; this is commonly recognized as
the only use of nudity among the seals of the U.S. states.
The rich inspiring meaning of the details are well represented
here
Why tipically. The Code of Virginia states that Virginia is dressed as an Amazon. It is well known that the Amazons, a nation of all-female warriors, burned their left breast to better draw their bows.
Among Classical Greeks, amazon was given a popular etymology as from a-mazos, "without breast", connected with an etiological tradition that Amazons had their right breast cut off or burnt out, so they would be able to use a bow more freely and throw spears without the physical limitation and obstruction; there is no indication of such a practice in works of art, in which the Amazons are always represented with both breasts, although the right is frequently covered.
I understand the indignation of my friend Tom the Virginian to lose all this for the last minute whims of freshly arrived politicians.
Tom you have all my support.