On the one hand, 1892 is considered the official date of approval of the main heraldic symbol of the capital of Norway; minor changes were made to this image in 1924. On the other hand, the coat of arms of Oslo has a very long history, and the modern image is based on city seals, which were already in force in 1300.
Legend as an idea
The coat of arms is based on one of the most famous Norwegian legends, the protagonist of which is Hallvard. He defended a woman innocently convicted of stealing on a ship. True, this did not save her from death, and the hero also paid with his life. They shot him with a bow, and then, tied to millstones, they tried to drown him in Drammenfjord. But the body did not sink, which made it possible to solve the crime and find a new "hero".
Sacred symbol
The central place on the city's coat of arms is occupied by a stylized image of Hallward, considered the patron saint of Oslo. The Roman Catholic Church ranked him among the host of saints, first of all, as an intercessor of innocent people, a champion of justice.
Saint Hallward is depicted sitting on a throne, richly dressed, in particular, you can see a scarlet tunic, a cape, a helmet. In the hands of the main character are arrows and a millstone. Behind the throne you can see the heads of two lions with bared mouths, as if protecting the saint.
In addition to the central image-symbol, there are other interesting elements on the coat of arms: a naked dead woman as a symbol of an innocent victim; golden stars that adorn the firmament.
A color photo of the Oslo coat of arms shows, on the one hand, a restrained color palette, the presence of dull gold and gray (steel) hues. On the other hand, against their background, the scarlet color of the saint's robes and azure, which conveys the color of the night sky, look very rich.
Additional details
In the description of the coat of arms of the Norwegian capital, you can see the following remark: an inscription in Latin runs along the contour, a kind of motto of the city: "Oslo is one and constant."
Another element completes the heraldic composition is the crown, which resembles a fortress with five towers. This image is considered a symbol of the city's defenses, as well as a reference to the strong monarchical power.
The highlight of the Oslo coat of arms is its round shape, reminiscent of the city's medieval seal, but not recognized in heraldic traditions. All other Norwegian cities have a traditional composition of their own official symbols.
