Among the many heraldic symbols, the coat of arms of Stavropol takes its rightful place. The modern image is distinguished by a rich color palette and the presence of important elements. However, the history of the creation of the main official symbol of the capital of the region is rather long and complex. The first few options remained on paper.
Description of the coat of arms of the city
The current image was approved in 1994. The coat of arms of Stavropol has a complex composition, consists of, in fact, a shield, a frame and the date of foundation ("1777") of the fortress. In the frame there is a lush golden wreath of oak leaves and fruits. The oak branches are beautifully decorated, wrapped in a ribbon painted in the colors of the national flag.
For the shield, a French shape was taken with rounded lower edges and an elongated, pointed middle. The shield is divided by a wide golden cross into four fields, each of which has its own important symbolic elements:
- bottom right - elements from the project of the historical coat of arms of Stavropol in 1878, a tower and a silver star above it;
- top right - a rider, a symbol of the Cossacks;
- top left - elements of the Soviet coat of arms of 1969, on a scarlet background a flame, as a symbol of eternal fire, and a part of a gear;
- at the bottom left - on a white background, the silhouette of the most recognizable Stavropol temple, which is a symbol of Orthodoxy.
For the official symbol of the capital of the Stavropol Territory, the most famous colors in heraldry are used - gold, silver, scarlet, azure.
From the history of the heraldic symbol
In the 19th century, many cities of the Russian Empire began to acquire their own coats of arms. For Stavropol, the first three attempts ended in nothing. Pavel Grabbe, who headed the Caucasus region in 1841, proposed a project for the heraldic symbol of the city, which was rejected. Bernhardt Köhne, a renowned heraldist, also proposed his own versions in 1859 and 1868, but these were not accepted either.
The first image of the official symbol appeared only in Soviet times, it happened in 1969. A new sketch was presented by a team of authors, based on the image of the symbols of the Soviet era - ears of corn, a fragment of a gear, a torch fire, a "beacon of knowledge." The long history of the city was reminded only of the number at the top of the shield - "1777". This is the year in which the Stavropol Fortress was founded to protect the southern borders of the empire.
