Probably not a single heraldic sign in the world looks as fun, bright, lively as the coat of arms of Oxford. And it is difficult to imagine what caused the presence of such interesting characters and the abundance of flowers.
On the one hand, the city is one of the oldest in Great Britain, so symbols that have long been recognized in world heraldry are read in it. On the other hand, this locality in the concept of people is closely related to the student body, which is distinguished by a cheerful disposition, the ability to joke in any situations.
All the colors of summer
Color photos of this official Oxford heraldic sign show a rich palette, many tones and shades. This is not to say that some color prevails over others, it is the main one. The coat of arms contains both the colors of precious metals, silver and gold, as well as red, green, shades of azure (from blue to saturated, dark blue).
In addition, many shades are very rare in heraldry, as they are too bright, striking the eyes. Rather, one of the capitals of Latin America or Africa could have such a coat of arms than a gray, dull English town.
Description of the Oxford coat of arms
The coat of arms of Oxford has a complex composition, which can be conditionally decomposed into several important parts:
- a shield with the image of a scarlet ox standing on blue waves;
- supporters in the images of an elephant and a beaver resembling a lizard;
- base and ribbon with the motto of the city;
- knight's helmet with a tent and a windbreak;
- azure lion crowning the composition.
Each of the fragments of the coat of arms has additional details, features, and its own meaning. For example, an ox is depicted on a shield, in contrast to the bull that is present on most of the world's heraldic signs. The animal is shown crossing the body of water. Many scientists agree that the waves on the coat of arms of Oxford represent the Thames flowing through the city.
Supporters are of the greatest interest, local historians claim that both the elephant and the beaver are inextricably linked with the famous English families who lived in Oxford. The animals are entwined with gold chains; the beaver has a gold ducal crown on its neck (not on its head).
Another animal can be found in the description of the city's coat of arms - a lion, which is positioned as an English lion, crowned with the crown of the emperor. In the paws of the predator, you can see a rose, which is a symbol of the Tudor dynasty.
