Coat of arms of the Department of Magdalena
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The Coat of arms of the Department of Magdalena is the official coat of arms of the Colombian Department of Magdalena. Along with the Flag, they are used in official ceremonies, in departamental agencies, and by departamental officials to represent the Department.
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[edit] History
The department of Magdalena, created 1824 as one of the original nine Sovereign States of the United States of Colombia, originally used the Coat of arms of Colombia, as the official coat of arms of the state with the addition of an inscribed oval around the shield with the words “ESTADO SOBERANO DEL MAGDALENA” (English: Sovereign State of Magdalena)[1].
In 1886 the states were dissolved departments were created instead, they now lacked a coat of arms. The Department of Magdalena held meeting with some institutions and individuals to address this issue. Different proposals were presented and of these, the coat of arms designed by the painter Alvaro Corpacho was finally adopted as the official insignia for the department.[2]
[edit] Design
[edit] Shield
The shield is a combination of two distinct designs, the top, with its tree tips, is a Swiss shield design, the bottom with the tip going out in the middle, is a French shield design. The shield is embraced by a branch of olive on either side.
[edit] Field
The field is divided in three horizontal sections.
- In the top section, in a field of azure, a snow-peaked mountain with a sun behind it charges the field in the middle.
- The middle section has the Flag of the Department of Magdalena as its field, with the National Pantheon in argent as the charge.
- The bottom section, also in a field of azure, has a golden pendant as the charge placed in the middle.
[edit] Meaning
Corvacho was inspired by the greatest symbols of the department.
- The fields of azure, or blue, represent the Magdalena River, and the Caribbean Sea, these two bodies of water have formed an important part in the history and daily life of the department.
- The snow-peaked mountain, represents the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, tallest mountain at sea level, and important geographical structure that has been a symbol of power, and the way both the Caribbean Sea and the Sierra Nevada are both on the top section represent its extreme geography, going from sea level to 5,775m above sea level.
- The sun crowning the mountain represents the wisdom of the citizens of Magdalena, such as Gabriel García Márquez. It is also an allusion to the Coat of arms of Santa Marta, which was adopted in the XVI Century, and which has a sun standing behind a lighthouse.
- The white building in the middle of the middle section is the National Pantheon of Simon Bolivar, it represents the Libertador and its ideals.
The flag represent the citizens, who stand behind the Libertador and its ideals.
- The golden pendant in the bottom section, is a Tayrona Pendant, a symbol of pre-Columbian goldsmithing techniques, and also symbolizes the Indigenous people of Magdalena.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.fotw.net/images/c/co)gc-ma.gif Image of the Coat of arms of the Sovereign State of Magdalena
- ^ http://www.gobmagdalena.gov.co/default.asp?id=15&mnu=22 Government of Magdalena on its symbols
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