The current coat of arms of Fiji has been used by the state since 1908, and this is despite the fact that over a century the form of government has radically changed here, from a monarchy that lasted almost a hundred years, from 1870 to 1971, to a republic. At the same time, being a republic, the country has changed several names, including Fiji, the Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji, the Republic of the Fiji Islands.
But its main official symbol remains unshakable. It reflects the historical past of exotic islands located in the South Pacific Ocean, and modern realities, natural symbols and heraldic signs.
The exoticism of distant islands
Any European, having examined in detail the coat of arms of Fiji, will be able to learn a lot about how people used to live on the islands and what they are doing now. The main details of the main emblem of the country include:
- supporters in the form of indigenous people;
- a shield divided into fields with important elements;
- canoe and windbreak, crowning the composition;
- the country's motto, inherited from the past.
The shield holders are armed Fijian warriors dressed in traditional outfits. The one on the left is armed with a spear, his partner with a club. There is one more nuance - one of the warriors is located in full face, the second is in profile.
The field of the shield is of silver color with the image of a scarlet St. Andrew's cross, in the upper part of it there is a heraldic lion holding a cocoa fruit in its paws. Below, in the white (silver) fields, important elements take their places: three stalks of sugar cane, a bunch of bananas, a white dove, a coconut tree.
The ribbon is written in Fijian and requires fear of God and respect for the queen. The last part looks a little strange, since Fiji has been a republic since 1970.
Emblem symbolism
The lion is a classic heraldic symbol, quite often found on the modern coats of arms of different countries. Most often, he is armed with an ax, an ax, a halberd, in contrast to the emblem of Fiji, where in his paws is a completely peaceful fruit - cocoa. This plant, along with bananas and sugarcane, is an important agricultural crop on the islands. That is why these cultures have found a place on the coat of arms.
Another symbol of a peaceful and creative life is a snow-white dove holding an olive branch in its key. In this hypostasis, he acts as a messenger of peace, and not only on the coat of arms of Fiji, but also on the main emblems of Guinea, Tonga, Cyprus.
