Colombia is a surprisingly diverse country. Her culture is a mixture of European, Latin American and Native American traditions. Does the coat of arms of Colombia represent a combination of these traditions? What do the national symbols of this country mean?
Contrast Colombia
Colombia can safely be called a country of contrasts. The richness and diversity of nature, interspersed with poverty of people. Evergreen mangroves and savannahs and equally thriving corruption and drug trafficking. Despite the obvious problems, tourism in Colombia is quite common. This country has incredibly beautiful nature: tropical beaches, waterfalls, lakes, forests with unusual inhabitants for our places. Here you can meet anteater, sloth, cougar or even a jaguar.
Attractive in Colombia and architecture. Colonial buildings have been preserved in Cartagena. Santa Marta also houses ancient buildings, such as the villa where Simon Bolivar once lived. Ancient buildings in Bogota can be seen surrounded by quite modern high-rise buildings. And on the road, cars compete with mules.
Anthem, flag and coat of arms of Colombia
The author of the country's anthem was its president, Rafael Nunez, who was at the head of state in the 19th century. The Colombian anthem is played every day at 6 a.m. and p.m. on state television and radio.
The flag of the country consists of three horizontal stripes of yellow, blue and red. This flag is one of the oldest flags in the world, it was adopted in 1861. There is no official definition of the colors chosen for the flag. It is assumed that, according to tradition, yellow means justice, blue is a symbol of nobility and devotion, and a red bar means the struggle for freedom.
The Colombian coat of arms was adopted back in 1834, but in 1924 it was modified. Its author is Francisco de Paula Santander.
The coat of arms is divided into three parts. At the very bottom are two ships, between which there is a land plot. The middle part of the coat of arms is a white stripe on which a spear and a red hat are placed. A pomegranate fruit and two cornucopia are also placed on the coat of arms of Colombia. Fruits are strewed from one horn, and gold coins from another.
A black condor sits at the top of the shield and holds an olive branch in its beak. In the paws of the condor, a ribbon with the inscription Libertad y Orden is twisted, which means "freedom and order." There are two Colombian flags on each side of the coat of arms.
Coat of arms of Colombia: symbolism
Andean condor at the head of the coat of arms is a symbol of the Andes and freedom. Condor is used in the heraldry of Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia. A wreath or olive branch in its beak means peace.
The Republic of Colombia was once called the New Granada, as evidenced by the fruit of a pomegranate, which is placed on the coat of arms of Colombia. Fruits and coins spilling out from the cornucopia speak of the country's wealth and the fertility of its land.
The red cap in the center of the coat of arms is nothing but a Phrygian cap. Even in medieval Europe, he meant the pursuit of his ideals and the struggle for independence and freedom. The cap was distributed as this symbol during the French Revolution. Now, in addition to Colombia, this element is used in the symbols of the United States, Cuba, Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, El Salvador.
The land between the two ships in the lower part of the coat of arms means the Isthmus of Panama, which was the property of the Republic until 1903. Water around the land is a symbol of the oceans to which the country has access.
Flags on both sides of the coat of arms symbolize four areas into which the Republic is conditionally divided.
Emblem criticism
The real coat of arms of Colombia is often criticized because of the anachronism of the elements on it. Pomegranate - once a symbol of the state of Granada - is now not grown in Colombia, the Isthmus of Panama also no longer belongs to the Republic.
Condor bird is more common in other countries and is not a national animal of Colombia. In addition, many critics are of the opinion that the carrion bird should not be present in national symbols.
The Phrygian cap and olive branch are symbols that came from Europe and have little in common with the Republic of Colombia.
The national symbols of Colombia fully reflect the identity of the region. The emblem of the state has numerous symbols that tell about various historical events that took place at different periods of the country's existence.