What is a symbol? Translated from Greek, this word means a sign, a sign inherent in something specific. But not everything that surrounds a person has a symbolic meaning. Falling snow is a sign of winter, and drops from the roofs mean the approach of spring. But these phenomena are not symbols. The latter carry a deeper, philosophical meaning.
We all know very well that the dove is a symbol of peace, and a pair of white swans symbolizes love and loyalty. Different countries also have their own signs and signs. They are official and unofficial. The official symbols include state symbols: coat of arms, flag and anthem. When did they first appear? What do they mean?
What are the symbolic plants of the world? What were the first flags made of and what was depicted on the first Russian coat of arms? Next, we consider the most interesting and unusual symbols of countries and cities in the world. But first, a little digression into history.
Distant past
One of the important symbols emphasizing the uniqueness of the country is the coat of arms. He appeared the very first of the other official signs. Slavs who lived in the VI-VIII centuries. AD, with the help of various ornaments allocated separate territories. The prototype of the oldest coat of arms can be considered a seal with the image of a falcon. Such belonged to the great Russian princes. Any documents were certified with a seal so that any person, even an uneducated person, could appreciate the importance of such a paper.
The first Russian coat of arms was a coin with the image of St. George the Victorious. In the middle of the 15th century a two-headed eagle appeared. His image was present on the royal seal and on the coin.
Six, banners, banners, flags
At all times, people communicated with the help of symbols, thanks to them they indicated belonging to a particular clan-tribe. Roman legionaries, speaking on campaigns, carried with them a pole with a pennant. Images of gods and various symbols could be applied to them. With their help, soldiers during the battle could determine where the enemy army is located.
The first flags appeared in China and Egypt, their history, thus, totals about 3000 years. They became identification marks of troops, territories, and then states. They were called differently: standard, banner, manipulus, banner. The performance of troops, military battles, military parade, oath - all these events cannot be imagined without the use of such symbols. Banners could be decorated with fringe, ribbons, tassels. Various inscriptions and mottos could be present on them. To carry the banner in battle was considered very honorable, and to lose it meant to say goodbye to honor and your life.
Types of flags of Russia
In Russia, the first banners appeared in the X century. On the panel most often depicted the miraculous Spas.
The national flag appeared at the end of the XVII century, during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. On a huge cloth panel were three strips of white, red and blue, and in the middle - an image of a two-headed eagle. Subsequently, commercial ships begin to fly under this flag, and trade is being conducted with foreign countries.
St. Andrew's flag. A blue cross is depicted on a white canvas. Ships went under this banner. It appeared at the end of the 17th century and began to be considered the flag of the Russian fleet. Later there appeared three-color panels. White - belonged to the ships of the admiral, blue - the vice admiral, and red - the rear admiral. In 1992, the Andreevsky flag was returned to its status, and now a white cloth with a blue cross represents the strength and power of the Russian fleet.
In 1858, the royal standard appeared. A black eagle was depicted on a yellow background. He was raised in the king’s location.
After the October Revolution, the Red Banner of the RSFSR appeared. It depicted a sickle, a hammer, a red star.
Since 1993, the flag of Russia has become what we all know. Three identical stripes of different colors: white, blue, red.
Flags of the world
In total there are about 250. Each of them is unique. Possessing information about the color symbolism of the flag, you can tell a lot about the country. In ancient times, the most popular colors were white, black and red. What are some colors of flags talking about?
- White - purity of thoughts, innocence, truthfulness.
- Black - sadness, wisdom, modesty.
- Red - courage, strength, revolutionism.
- Blue is the sea, calm, greatness.
- Green - in Muslim countries is considered the color of Islam.
Symbols of different countries of the world may have different meanings.
The most interesting flags
National symbols of the countries of the world are sometimes very unusual. Take, for example, flags. All of them have the appearance of a rectangle, which depicts the symbols of different countries of the world. But there are exceptions. We bring to your attention the most interesting of them in form and content.
- The flag shape of the state of Nepal is pentagonal. But many call it "half-yolk". At the top of the flag is a drawing of the sun, and at the bottom - the moon. The combination of these symbols suggests that the country will forever live and prosper, as these celestial bodies are eternal.
- The flag of Switzerland is square. A large white cross is painted on red fabric. The flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross is its descendant, only in this case the cross is red and the fabric is white.
- The flag of the Vatican is also square. The base is two identical stripes of yellow and white, the last one shows the country's coat of arms - two keys to Paradise and Rome, and above them is the papal tiara.
- The flag of Portugal shows an astronomical instrument. It is a symbol of the geographical discoveries of the country.
- Angkor Wat Temple is depicted on the flag of Cambodia. This is also a kind of sign of uniqueness, because usually the symbols of the countries of the world do not contain images of religious buildings.
- Russia's modern weapon - the Kalashnikov assault rifle - adorns the flag of Mozambique. there are no such paintings anywhere else.
- Coat of arms with the image of a chessboard distinguishes Croatia. On the red, white and blue stripes of the flag we can see the favorite symbol of chess players from all over the world.
- The outlines of Cyprus can be seen not only on geographical maps, but also on the white panel of the state of the same name.
- A beautiful sight of the starry sky appears before our eyes on the flag of Brazil. All of it, of course, did not fit, only a part: 27 stars, according to the number of states of the country.
- At the first glance, there is nothing unusual in the Norwegian flag. But this is a misleading impression. Some of this flag was painted … a child.
- The state of Libya does not use any signs on its canvas. The green flag represents the state religion of the country - Islam.
The history of the coat of arms
Symbols of the countries of the world have a rich history, rooted in ancient times. The tradition of creating a coat of arms begins with totems. This word means "gender." The first totems began to use the Indians. Each tribe chose an animal or plant, the image of which was applied to the fabric, personal items, sometimes even to the human body. By these signs it was possible to determine belonging to one or another tribe.
Crusades and knightly fights in Western Europe contributed to the widespread dissemination of emblems. They acted primarily as identification marks. In one of the poems of Samuel Yakovlevich Marshak there are such lines:
This was an old custom, -
To the state emblems
He threatened neighbors face animal
The grin of all your teeth.
The first coat of arms of Russia also depicted a bird of prey - a double-headed eagle. This image is still present on it.
Animals on the arms of the world
Since ancient times, people have treated them with great respect. Animals were idolized, they were worshiped. Images were present on dishes, clothes, weapons. It was believed that they bring good luck, prosperity.
Animal symbols of the countries of the world are quite diverse:
- A lion is one of the oldest and most popular images. Embodies strength, fearlessness, dexterity. The symbol can be found on the arms of Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Bulgaria, India and others.
- Kangaroo - lives in Australia, therefore, takes pride of place on the coat of arms of this country. It symbolizes a forward movement, since these animals do not jump back.
- Image of a cow - located on the coat of arms of Andorra.
- Leopard symbolizes stamina, courage, courage. Can be seen on the arms of the country of Benin. Here you can read the motto of this country: "Brotherhood. Justice. Labor."
- The antelope is present on the coat of arms of the state of Zimbabwe.
Symbols of countries of the world can be expressed not only with the help of animals. On some emblems are images of plants, objects, natural phenomena, fruits.
Flowers-symbols of the world
The world of plants is amazing and wonderful. Each country, as a rule, has its own flower. His image is present even on some emblems:
- Great Britain - rose, clover and thistle.
- Mexico, Malta - Cactus.
- Guyana is a water lily.
- Antigua and Barbuda - red hibiscus.
Similar symbols of the countries of the world (plants and trees) can be found on the arms.
- Peru is a laurel branch.
- The Bahamas, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and many other countries are palm trees.
- Australia - Eucalyptus.
- Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda - pineapple.
- Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Turkmenistan - grapes.
The most exotic emblem of the world
The state of Dominica is located on an island in the Caribbean. The coat of arms of this country is called the most exotic. Judge for yourself. A blue-yellow shield is held by two parrot sisser. Above them is an image of a roaring lion. The shield is divided into four parts.
Each of them has a certain symbol.
- A boat with a sail - indicates the situation in the Caribbean.
- Banana is one of the country's main crops.
- Coconut palm on the island - symbolizes the highest point - the extinct volcano Dyabloten, 1447 m).
- The Dominican mountain frog is an endemic animal that is found only on the islands of Dominica and Montserrat.
At the bottom of the coat of arms there is a ribbon with the country's motto: "After God (the main thing) - the earth."
Interesting facts about hymns
- The main solemn song of the Russian Empire "God Save the Tsar!" and "God save the Queen!" Great Britain were very similar. The fact is that the words of the Russian anthem were put to British music. Only after more than ten years was another option written. This time the music was a Russian composer.
- The longest anthem in the world is Greek. Officially, it consists of only two verses, but when it was written, there were more than one hundred verses. A short version sounds at the opening and closing of the Olympic Games.
- The anthem of Armenia is written on the basis of the poem "Song of the Italian Girl".
- At one of the international tournaments, the first place was taken by an athlete from Kazakhstan. At the award ceremony, instead of an anthem, a song from the film was sounded, since it was she who appeared in a search engine next to the real anthem of Kazakhstan.
- During the Great Patriotic War in Norway, the Nazis burst into the Philharmonic Hall. They were about to capture one of the violinists, who was Jewish. The musicians began to sing the anthem of Norway, and this gave him the opportunity to hide.
