The official symbol of the third largest city in the Russian Federation was approved by the authorities in March 2007. But if you take at least one glance at the coat of arms of Nizhny Novgorod, then even a person unfamiliar with heraldry will confidently assert that the symbol is much more years old than according to the documents.
Description of the Nizhny Novgorod coat of arms
The modern heraldic symbol of Nizhny Novgorod today is presented in large and small versions, which are equally used in official papers.
The small version consists of a silver French shield (with rounded lower corners) depicting a slender deer. The composition of the coat of arms (full version) is more complex. It includes the following elements:
- the shield itself with the image of a graceful animal;
- a ribbon framing the shield (with the Order of Lenin);
- a crowning crown with five teeth;
- laurel wreath decorating the royal headdress.
So in a strange way, the elements-symbols of the coat of arms of Nizhny Novgorod, approved in 1780, and later ones associated with the era of Soviet power were intertwined.
Symbols of the color palette and elements
In the description of the Nizhny Novgorod heraldic symbol, you can find the following colors - gold, scarlet, silver. To a small extent, black is represented; it is used to draw small details of the deer (eyes, horns, hooves). On the one hand, the coat of arms looks very rich, royal, on the other hand, it is harmonious. Any color photo or image emphasizes this.
From the point of view of symbolism, the selection of colors is impeccable, silver symbolizes nobility, the desire for excellence in deeds, actions, thoughts. Scarlet is associated with shed blood, means courage, fearlessness, bravery, readiness to defend the city and its inhabitants. Black most often speaks of humility, wisdom, reminds of the eternity of being.
The deer on the heraldic sign of Nizhny Novgorod also acts as a symbol of purity and nobility, justice and courage. The ribbon testifies to the orders that the city was awarded with during the Soviet era. In this case, the crown is a witness of strong power, and also speaks of the status of the city as a major administrative center.
Deer or moose
The most interesting thing is that historians still have not come to a consensus about which animal was depicted on the first heraldic signs of Nizhny Novgorod. Some scientists argue that it was an elk, and only in the 18th century this large animal of the forests of the middle zone turned into a slender and graceful deer.
