The main colors of the Sydney coat of arms are yellow and blue. In the heraldic symbol of Sydney, blue emphasizes the geographical position of the capital - on the ocean coast, splashes of yellow remind of sunlight, in addition, yellow corresponding to gold in heraldry is a symbol of wealth.
Description of the coat of arms of Sydney
The simplicity of the color palette of the heraldic symbol is offset by the complexity of the composition, which includes the following elements:
- shield with the image of a white anchor, a gold crown;
- three emblems related to the history of Sydney, located at the top of the shield;
- a snake wrapping its tail around the end of a sea rope;
- the motto of the city at the base of the coat of arms;
- a six-pointed star crowning the coat of arms.
In general, one can feel the harmony of colors and symbols, one can see the thoughtfulness of the compositional construction and a serious selection of material for inclusion in the heraldic sign of Sydney.
Symbolic meaning of elements
The coat of arms was approved in 1996 by the City Council, but the long history of the country is hidden in the elements of the symbol. The anchor located on the shield emphasizes the importance of the city as a major seaport, the crown is a symbol of state power.
The most interesting objects are the fragments located at the top of the shield. These are simplified versions of the emblems from the previous symbol, they are associated with the history of the city, and with famous people who contributed to the appearance of a new point on the world map. The left square is a kind of reference to Thomas Townsend, who played a role in the founding of the urban settlement in 1788.
The centerpiece is a tribute to James Cook, the legendary naval officer who discovered the east coast of the Australian continent. The square on the right contains a blue chevron and three lion heads and is associated with Thomas Hughes, the city's first mayor.
The symbolic snake reminds of the aborigines, the first inhabitants of these lands, their folklore. The rope symbolizes the appearance of immigrants from other lands, and the interweaving of these two elements is a symbol of the harmony of cultures.
