Coat of arms of Venezuela

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Coat of arms of Venezuela

Versions

1954-2006
Details
Armiger Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Adopted March 12, 2006
Crest Cornucopia
The current coat of arms of Venezuela was primarily approved by the Congress on April 18, 1836, undergoing small
modifications through history, reaching the present version.
The coat of arms was established in the Law of the National Flag, Shield and Anthem (Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno
Nacionales), passed on February 17, 1954, by the military governor of Venezuela, Marcos Prez Jimnez. The shield is
divided in the colors of the national flag. In the dexter chief, on a red field, wheat represents the union of the 20 states of
the Republic existing at the time and the wealth of the nation. In sinister chief, on a yellow field, weapons (a sword, a
sabre and three lances) and two national flags are tied by a branch of laurel, as a symbol of triumph in war. In base, on a
deep blue field, a wild white horse (perhaps representing Simn Bolvar's white horse Palomo) runs free, an emblem of
independence and freedom.
Above the shield are two crossed cornucopias (horns of plenty), pouring out wealth. The shield is flanked by an olive
branch and another of palm, both tied at the bottom of the coat with a large band that represents the national tricolour
(yellow for the nations wealth, blue for the ocean separating Venezuela from Spain, and red for the blood and courage of
the people). The following captions appear in golden letters on the blue stripe:

19 de Abril de 1810 (April 19, 1810)

20 de Febrero de 1859 (February 20, 1859)
Independencia (Independence)
Federacin (Federation)
Repblica Bolivariana de Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)

Contents

1 2006 changes

2 Evolution of the state coat of arms

3 Notes

4 References

5 External links

2006 changes
In March 2006, the National Assembly approved changes to the coat of arms and the flag of Venezuela, which were
made official on March 12, 2006, coinciding with Flag Day. Prior to 2006, the horse was running to the sinister side of
the shield with its head turned to the dexter (to the viewer, this appears as the horse galloping towards his right and
looking back to the left). In heraldic practice, animals and beasts are to appear facing to the dexter, which is considered
the natural and honorable position. The Economist observed that Hugo Chvez ordered the seal changed after his
daughter, Rosins Chvez Rodrguez, had described the previous horse as looking backwards.[1] Government
supporters state, however, that even if the president's daughter was the one who sparked the discussion, both the
legislative and executive branch agreed to changes. These were adding a machete to represent the peasant fighters during
the revolutionary wars in Venezuela since the War of Independence, and a bow and arrow as a tribute to the brave
indigenous population who resisted the Spanish conquistadors.
Many critics have suggested that the horse, now running to the dexter (to the viewer's left) is a political statement of the
current left-wing government of President Hugo Chvez. Previously in the Venezuelan arms adopted in 1863, the horse
was moving as it is seen today, to the dexter (the viewer's left). Also to note is that in heraldry, positions are not described
from the viewer's point of view, but rather the shield's, so while the horse appears to be galloping left to one observing
the arms, the horse is actually galloping to the dexter, or right, side of the shield. This symbolizes Venezuela as the first
of the independent states of South America, and Simon Bolivar's campaigns of liberation for all of Latin America, which
started here in 1811 (with Venezuela's Declaration of Independence and the earlier Caracas Junta of 1810) and ended
with his final victory in the Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824, all the while riding his white horse Palomo.
Political opponents have also claimed that in addition to being politically motivated, the changes were economically
wasteful. At the time of the official unveiling, the opposition party stated that they will not use the new flag or coat of
arms, but retain the old and employ them in demonstrations against the government. However, by 2008, and with a
slightly improved political climate, the new coat of arms and flag have been generally accepted among the population
and opposition.
Heraldist Fabio Cassani Pironti, commissioned by the National Assembly, made the reform of the National coats of arms.
[2]

Evolution of the state coat of arms

nd Republic of Venezuela
1812 - 1814

Third Republic of
1814 - 18

Notes
In heraldic descriptions dexter means right from the viewpoint of a person standing behind the shield, i.e. the viewer's
left; sinister means left, i.e. the viewer's right.

References
1.

"Freedom to Agree", The Economist, February 24, 2007

2.

El Nacional, 12/03/2006.

External links

(Spanish) Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno Nacionales - Law of the National Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem.

(Spanish) La octava estrella de Bolvar - The eighth star of Bolivar.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coat_of_arms_of_Venezuela&oldid=721951490"

Categories:

National symbols of Venezuela

National coats of arms

Coats of arms with swords

Coats of arms with spears

Coats of arms with flags

Coats of arms with wheat

Coats of arms with horses

Coats of arms with cornucopia

Coats of arms with olive branches

Coats of arms with palm branches

This page was last modified on 25 May 2016, at 02:00.

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