Coat of arms of the Bahamas. Pink flamingo and blue marlin

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

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

Write a review on the article "Coat of arms of the Bahamas"

Excerpt from the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas

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

Official symbols of many countries of the world are built in full accordance with the basic tenets of heraldic science. And yet, sometimes the mentality of the authors of a sketch or project plays a decisive role, then peculiar emblems are born. For example, the coat of arms Bahamas although it is based on classical principles, it still looks rather 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, topped with a windbreak;
• supporters represented by marlin and flamingos;
• a Phrygian cap and a palm tree topping the composition.

It would seem that it is a classical construction typical for many countries of the Old and New Worlds. And yet there are significant differences. Firstly, the heraldry connoisseur is surprised by the selection of colors for the emblem, which turned out to be very variegated, 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 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, the brightest representatives of the local fauna were chosen for the role of supporters, but not everyone is familiar with lions or leopards. On the right, the shield is held by 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 different regions planets. The blue marlin holds the record for the largest in its family, and its dishes are a delicacy.

There is one more feature - the bird stands on a green base, and the fish is located vertically, leaning on ocean waves... This underlines 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, in the upper, blue, the rising sun is drawn. The luminary acts as a symbol of a young nation. This element is often present on emblems and emblems. different countries... In the lower, silver part, the ship of Christopher Columbus "Santa Maria" sails along 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.

v modern form existed since 1971

Ocean clam shell found on the shores and 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 about 2 million foreign tourists a year (with a population of 300 thousand people).

Backboard 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.

Backboard holder - flamingo, the national bird of the Bahamas.

Caravel of Columbus "Santa Maria": The Bahamas was the first land in America that Columbus set foot on.

Waves oceans ... washing Island.

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

honored to crown the coat of arms of the Bahamas

Blue marlin reaches 5 meters in length and 900 kilograms in weight. True, the largest of the reliably weighed specimens pulled out only 726 kg. The weight does not prevent the marlin from performing truly acrobatic jumps. Have blue marlin delicious meat, so this fish is a coveted trophy for an 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 reminds that one of the eastern islands Of the Bahamas archipelago, San Salvador (otherwise - Watlings), became the first land of the New World, discovered by Columbus in 1492.

This is how a famous history scholar describes the Bahamian meeting of Europe and America geographical discoveries I.P. Magidovich:

On October 11, everything testified to the undoubted proximity of the land. Great excitement seized the sailors. At 2 o'clock in the morning on October 12, 1492, Rodrigo Triana, the sailor of the Pinta in front, shouted that the land was visible in the distance.
The signal from the Pinta was fired. Sails were removed on all ships. In the morning, the land opened, which Columbus describes as follows: “This island is very large and flat, and there are many green trees and water, and in the middle there is a very big lake... There are no mountains. "
The crossing lasted 33 days. Atlantic Ocean from Homera to this west island... Boats were lowered from the ships. Columbus, with both captains Pinsons, with a notary and a royal controller, landed - 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 it ...

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

On the island of Columbus, they were presented with “dry leaves, which were especially appreciated by the locals” [the first indication of the table]. The inhabitants called their island Guanahani. Columbus, of course, gave him the Christian name - San Salvador ("Savior"), and this name stuck 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 proposed sites for the first landing of Columbus are named; they are all located in the outer, eastern chain of the Bahamas archipelago.