There is nothing surprising in the fact that the coat of arms of Samarkand is considered quite young. One has only to turn the pages of the recent history of Uzbekistan to understand that only after gaining independence and secession from the USSR, the question of the heraldic symbols of this country and cities was raised.
And although Samarkand is one of the oldest settlements on the planet, an important geographical point on the Great Silk Road, it did not have its official sign for a long time.
The history of the appearance of the coat of arms of Samarkand
During the years of Soviet power, several attempts were made to introduce the main heraldic symbol of the second largest city in Uzbekistan. The city authorities even organized several special competitions, the first of which was held in 1968-1969, the second in 1975-1976. The competition commission received a lot of different proposals. Unfortunately, none of the proposed options fully met the requirements for heraldic symbols, and therefore Samarkand continued to live a rich, full life, but without its own coat of arms.
Grigory Ulko, who later became one of the most famous painters and sculptors of Uzbekistan, took part in these competitions. It is he who is the author of the modern coat of arms of Samarkand, the draft of which was approved in July 1994.
Description of the city's heraldic sign
Any photo of the coat of arms of Samarkand clearly demonstrates the knowledge of the author of Uzbek history and mythology, since the central place is occupied by the winged snow leopard, a sacred animal among the Sogdians, the ancient inhabitants of these territories.
True, in various interviews, the artist humorously notes that in the image of the legendary creature, the helper and protector of man, you can find the features of Grigory Ivanovich's beloved cat - Prokhor. Whether it is true or not, only the author of the sketch and his relatives know, and people from the outside who see the coat of arms of the city note its stylishness, imagery, and rich palette.
In the image of the heraldic symbol of Samarkand, several important elements related to history can be noted:
- scarlet shield of the Sogdian warrior-defender;
- winged snowy leopard;
- the symbolic image of the Zaravshan River;
- azure seven-pointed star.
Each of the elements depicted is important, carries its own information, not noticeable at first glance, but revealed upon close acquaintance. For example, the snow leopard is currently practically not found in Uzbekistan. But it is considered a legendary animal, it appears in ancient symbols and decorative elements of the city's architectural landmarks.
