Coat of arms of Serbia
The coat of arms of Serbia is based the family arms of the former Obrenović dynasty (adopted in 1882) and features the white bicephalic eagle of the Nemanjić dynasty. An ermine cape of the style once worn by kings is featured in the background. The double-headed eagle has been used since Byzantine era, the Serbian cross has been used since the 12th century. In November 2010 the coat of arms was slightly modified.[1] However, the change has been highly criticized by the public and some officials, citing that the cost of replacing the emblem with such a minor alteration is unjustifiably high.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Design
|
|
It has been suggested that Serbian eagle and Serbian cross be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2011. |
The principal field stands for the Serbian State. It consists of a double-headed eagle on a red shield; its body and wings in silver, and tongues, beaks, legs and claws in gold, between two golden fleur-de-lis. The inescutcheon stands for the Serbian nation; in a red shield, a cross between four silver firesteels arranged in the quarters around it, all of them facing horizontally outwards.
A blazon in heraldic terms is: Gules, a bicephalic eagle Argent armed Or, two fleurs-de-lys Or. Overall an escutcheon Gules, a cross Argent between four firesteels Argent. All crowned with a royal crown. The design on the inescutcheon has been used by Serbian states and the Serbian church since the Middle Ages. The four shapes around the central cross are firesteels, which may be originally Serbian symbols dating back to their pagan tradition when the Serbs worshiped Dajbog, Slavic God of sun and fire, as the protector and major God of the Serbian Slavic tribe. From the beginning of the 19th century they acquired additional meaning as the 4 Cyrillic letter С that stand for Само Слога Србина Спасава meaning Only Unity Saves Serb. Some think they originate from the Greek letter B (beta) from the phrase: Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileuonton (King of Kings, Ruling Over Rulers), as originally used on the flag of the Palaiologos dynasty of Byzantine Empire.
Although Serbia is now a republic, the coat of arms also features the crown of the former monarchy.
- Historical coats of arms of Serbia
-
First Serbian Uprising
(1804–1813) -
Principality of Serbia
(1835–1882) -
Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918) and Republic of Serbia (2006–2010)
-
Serbia under German occupation
(1941–1944) -
Socialist Republic of Serbia (1947–1990) and Republic of Serbia (1990–2004)
-
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1994–2003) and Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Srpski grb konačno standardan (Serbian)
- ^ Promena grba veliki trošak (Serbian)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||