Coat of arms of the Bahamas. Coat of arms of the Bahamas On the state emblems of the Bahamas

On top of the shield is a shell, which symbolizes the various marine life of the chain of islands. Below this is the actual shield, main symbol which is the ship - Santa Maria Christopher Columbus. Below the rising sun is the symbol of the young nation. The animals supporting the shield are national symbols. The base of the coat of arms is the national motto. Flamingos are located on land, and marlin in the sea, indicating the geography of the islands.

The bright colors of the coat of arms are also meant to indicate a bright future for the islands. It is believed that the islands will be so attractive to tourists.

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An excerpt characterizing the coat of arms of the Bahamas

“Don’t talk to me ... I beg you,” Pierre whispered hoarsely.
"Why shouldn't I speak!" I can speak and boldly say that it is a rare wife who, with a husband like you, would not take lovers (des amants), but I did not, she said. Pierre wanted to say something, looked at her with strange eyes, which she did not understand the expression, and lay down again. He suffered physically at that moment: his chest was tight, and he could not breathe. He knew that he needed to do something to end this suffering, but what he wanted to do was too scary.
"We'd better part ways," he said brokenly.
“To part, if you please, only if you give me a fortune,” said Helen ... To part, that’s what scared me!
Pierre jumped up from the sofa and staggered towards her.
- I'll kill you! he shouted, and seizing a marble board from the table, with a force unknown to him, took a step towards it and swung at it.
Helen's face became terrifying: she yelped and jumped away from him. The breed of his father affected him. Pierre felt the fascination and charm of rage. He threw the plank, smashed it, and approaching Helen with open arms, shouted: “Out!!” in such a terrible voice that the whole house was terrified to hear this cry. God knows what Pierre would have done at that moment if
Helen didn't run out of the room.

A week later, Pierre gave his wife a power of attorney to manage all the Great Russian estates, which accounted for more than half of his fortune, and left alone for St. Petersburg.

The official symbols of many countries of the world are built in full accordance with the basic postulates of heraldic science. And yet, sometimes the mentality of the authors of a sketch or project plays a decisive role, then original emblems are born. For example, coat of arms Bahamas although it relies on classical principles, it still looks quite exotic.

Pink flamingo and blue marlin

The following elements are located on the official symbol of the Bahamas:

  • classic shield, divided into two halves;
  • a shield in the form of a shell, crowned with a windbreak;
  • shield holders, represented by marlin and flamingos;
  • a Phrygian cap and a palm tree crowning the composition.

It would seem that the classical construction, characteristic of many countries of the Old and New Worlds. And yet there are significant differences. Firstly, a connoisseur of heraldry is surprised by the choice of colors for the emblem, which turned out to be very colorful, there are blue and red, green and orange, yellow and pink tones. One of the versions of why almost all the colors of the rainbow are present in the image of the coat of arms says that the multicolor symbolizes the bright future of this young state. In addition, such a cheerful coat of arms of the Bahamas can serve as an attraction for tourists.

Secondly, bright representatives of the local fauna, but not the usual lions or leopards, were chosen for the role of shield holders. On the right, the shield holds a pink flamingo, on the left, a blue marlin. They are considered the national animals of the Bahamas, although they are ubiquitous, they are found in various regions of the planet. Blue marlin is the largest in its family, and dishes from it are considered delicacies.

There is another feature - the bird stands on a green base, and the fish is located vertically, leaning on the ocean waves. This emphasizes the important role of the ocean in the life of the state.

solar shield

The image of the shield on the coat of arms is made in the traditional style: it is divided into two parts, at the top, blue, the rising sun is drawn. The luminary is a symbol of the young nation. This element is quite often present on emblems and coats of arms. different countries. In the lower, silver part, the ship of Christopher Columbus "Santa Maria" floats on the waves, which brought him world fame and remained in history. The ship also acts as a symbol of the developed navigation in the Bahamas, which is an integral, important part of the economy.

It has existed in its current form since 1971.

Ocean clam shell, found on the shores and in the coastal waters of the Bahamas, surrounded by branches of the royal palm growing on the islands.

Rising Sun symbolizes a wonderful climate and attractiveness for tourism.

The country receives approximately 2 million foreign tourists per year (with a population of 300 thousand people).

Shield holder - marlin fish from the family of sailboats.

Knight's helmet characteristic of the heraldry of the former British possessions: in 1783 the Bahamas became a colony of Great Britain; They gained independence only in 1973.

Shield holder - flamingos, the national bird of the Bahamas.

Columbus caravel "Santa Maria": The Bahamas were the first land in America that Columbus set foot on.

Waves ocean... washing island.

Motto on English language, it translates " Together forward, higher and further” and expresses the desire for progress through the joint efforts of the entire population. A competition was announced in the country for the best motto for the national coat of arms. The author of the adopted version was 11-year-old schoolchildren from Nassau (the capital of the Bahamas) Vivian Moultrie and Melvern Bove.

honored to crown the coat of arms of the Bahamas

blue marlin reaches 5 meters in length and 900 kilograms of weight. True, the largest of the reliably weighed specimens pulled out only 726 kg. Weight does not prevent the marlin from making truly acrobatic jumps. The blue marlin has tasty meat, so this fish is a coveted trophy for the angler.

On the foremast "Santa Maria"- the pennant of the Columbus expedition (white with a green cross and the first letters of the names of the Spanish royal couple who sent the expedition - Ferdinand and Isabella), and on the main and mizzen masts - the then flag and pennant of Spain with the lion of Leon and the castles of Castile. The caravel recalls that one of eastern islands of the Bahamas, San Salvador (otherwise - Watlings), became the first land of the New World, discovered by Columbus in 1492.

This is how the famous historical researcher describes the Bahamian meeting of Europe and America geographical discoveries I.P. Magidovich:

On October 11, everything testified to the undoubted proximity of the earth. A strong excitement seized the sailors. At 2 o'clock in the morning on October 12, 1492, Rodrigo Triana, the sailor of the Pinta, who was walking in front, shouted that the land was visible in the distance.
From the "Pinta" they gave a signal with shots. The sails were removed on all ships. In the morning, the land was opened, which Columbus characterizes as follows: “This island is very large and even, and there are many green trees and water, and in the middle there is very big lake. There are no mountains."
It took 33 days to cross Atlantic Ocean from Homer to this western island. The boats were lowered from the ships. Columbus, with both captains Pinsons, with a notary and a royal comptroller, landed on the shore - now as an admiral of the sea-ocean and viceroy - and hoisted the Castilian banner. Then he formally took possession of the island and drew up a notarial deed about this ...

On the island, the Spaniards saw naked people. [They were the Arawak people], who were completely exterminated by the Spanish colonialists in 20-30 years...

On the island of Columbus, a gift was presented "dry leaves, which were especially appreciated by the locals" [the first indication of tobacco]. The inhabitants called their island Guanahani. Columbus, of course, gave it a Christian name - San Salvador ("Savior"), and this name was assigned to one of the eastern Bahamas, lying at 24 ° N. latitude. However, there is no complete certainty that Columbus landed here. At least five other alleged sites of the first landing of Columbus are named; they are all located in the outer, eastern chain of the Bahamas.