The presence of predators - an eagle, a lion or a tiger - on the heraldic symbols of Russian cities was almost mandatory, of course, until 1917. After the October Revolution, in most cases, such symbols disappeared and reappeared only at the end of the twentieth century. Today, the formidable representatives of the kingdom of fauna have returned to official symbols, including the coat of arms of the Eagle.
Any person instantly understands which bird should decorate the official symbol of this Russian city. But the first acquaintance with the coat of arms is still surprising, especially the pose that the bird takes.
Description of the heraldic symbol of the Eagle
The first officially approved coat of arms of the Russian regional center appeared in August 1781, the modern image was approved in 1998. They are almost identical, with the exception of the tape that surrounds the shield. Today its color corresponds to the ribbon of the Soviet Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree.
Among the parts that make up the coat of arms of the Eagle, the following elements attract the most attention:
- a shield with an image of a city and an eagle;
- a golden crown resembling a fortress with towers;
- a golden wreath of laurel leaves that frames the crown, and two crossed swords behind it;
- scarlet sash in a frame.
The central place in the coat of arms is given to the French shield; the symbolic elements depicted on it are of particular interest. The lower part is a green base on which stands a silver fortress with towers ending in scarlet gabled roofs. Behind the fortress wall, individual houses are visible, made in the same silver color, with scarlet roofs.
On the central tower (which has no roof) is a black predatory eagle with a golden beak and a golden crown on its head. The bird is shown with its right wing spread wide and its left wing folded. The coat of arms looks especially beautiful in color illustrations and photos.
From the history of the Oryol coat of arms
Initially, such an image appeared on the coat of arms of the Oryol regiment in 1730, a year later it was approved by the authorities as the main symbol of the city. The appearance of the eagle on the heraldic symbol was simply explained, the name of the bird directly correlated with the name of the city, which was built to protect the southern borders of Russia.
The townspeople steadfastly carried this mission for three hundred years. The last time they had to defend their homeland during the Second World War. In 1980, the Eagle was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree for merits, the order ribbon took its place on the official symbol of the city.
