Both the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Russian Republic of Crimea use the same coat of arms (, , ), which has been in use since 1992.
Description The coat of arms consists of a red Varangian shield and a silver griffin passant facing to the heraldic right with an azure pearl in its right paw. On either sides of the shield are a white pillar. At the top of the shield sits the rising sun. Winding around both columns and under the shield rests the Flag of Crimea, a blue–white–red tricolor ribbon, unto which the Motto of Crimea, Процветание в единстве (translated as Prosperity in unity), is inscribed.
The Varangian shield is symbolic of the fact that the region of Crimea was for a long time a crossing of major trade routes.fotw.net — Crimea Autonomous Republic (Ukraine) The red field of the coat of arms symbolizes the intense history of Crimea. The griffin is placed on the coat of arms because it is commonly used to represent the territory north of the Black Sea, and is known as the "coat of arms" of Chersonesos and Panticapaeum, where one can see the griffin on artifacts from the area.
Another variation in the symbolism is that the pearl is symbolic of Crimea as a part of Earth, and the griffin as the defender of the young republic. The pearl's azure is reminiscent of the combined culture of Crimea. The white pillars are said to be reminiscent of the ancient civilizations which inhabited the peninsula. The rising sun is symbolic of prosperity and regeneration.
History
On November 10, 1921, the first All-Crimean Constituent Congress of Soviets adopted the Constitution of the Crimean Soviet Socialist Republic, which contained the description of the emblem of the Crimean SSR. The emblem of the Crimean SSR is described in Article 35 of the Constitution:
First revision Between 1921 and 1924, a change was made to the emblem. The Crimean Tatar inscriptions were removed from the emblem.
Second revision After the translation of the Crimean Tatar script from Arabic into Latinized alphabet in 1928, the inscriptions in the arms of the Autonomous Crimean SSR also were made in Latinized graphics.
Third revision In 1937, on the basis of the Constitution of the USSR of 1936 and the Constitution of the RSFSR of 1937, the Constitution of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted, which contained the description of the State Emblem of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic:
Fourth revision In 1938, the writing system of the Crimean Tatar language was changed from Latin to Cyrillic. In accordance with this, changes also occurred in the emblem.
Gallery
See also Flag of Crimea
Notes
References
External links
Ukrainian heraldry — Coat of arms of Crimea