Coat of arms of Cuba

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cuban Coat of Arms is the official heraldic symbol of Cuba. It consists of a shield, crowned by the Phrygian Cap, all supported by an oak branch on one side and a laurel wreath on the other. The coat of arms was created by Miguel de Teurbe Tolon^[1] and was adopted on April 24, 1906.

1 Shield
2 Supporters
3 Helm/crest
4 Blason
5 References

[edit] Shield

The shield is divided in a three parts:

In the chief, a key charging a blue sea between two rocks, symbolizing Cuba’s geographical position as the key to the Gulf of Mexico, with a bright rising sun in the background, which represents the rising new republic.

In the division located to the left are the stripes, vertically, representing the three departments which divide the island: Oriental, Central y Occidental (the Eastern, Central and Western).

In the division toward the right, a heraldic ladscape consisting of mountains, green vegetation and a Royal Palm Tree, the national tree of Cuba, representing the rich soil of Cuba.

[edit] Supporters

The shield is supported by an oak branch on one side and a laurel wreath on the other. The oak branch symbolizes the strength of the nation; and the laurel wreath: honour and glory. These symbols were meant to represent the rights of man: Equality, Liberty and Fraternity.

[edit] Helm/crest

The Phrygian Cap (Gorro Frigio) or liberty cap that has a sole star, and serves as a crown symbolizing liberty, and the sole star stands for independence.

[edit] Blason

"The National coat of arms represents our island. It is shaped like a pointed leather shield, and divided into three sections. In its horizontal upper part, there is a golden key between two mountains, and a sun rising over the sea - which symbolises the position of Cuba in the Gulf, between the two Americas, amidst the emergence of a new state. The blue and white stripes, down the left hand side, represent the situation of the island, in terms of its division into states, in the colonial period. Down the right hand side, a Cuban country scene is dominated by a royal palm tree - the symbol of the unbreakable character of the Cuban people."