The symbolism of Italy is in many ways original and original, because this European country has long roots that go back to ancient era and even deeper. Therefore, part of its current symbolism, which is well-established, including at the official level, Italy took over from its main predecessor, Rome. But first things first.
Today, the main symbol of the country of Italy is an equal-beam five-pointed star, known as "Stellone d" Italia (literally from Italian - "Star of Italy"). The star is not "filled" with color, only its outline has a bright red tint. Historically, the five-pointed star was used in iconographic motifs of this region, but in the national context it first "declared itself" in the era of the Risorgimento, becoming the hallmark of representatives of the movement of the same name. Since 1890, the "Star of Italy" officially appeared on the coat of arms of the (already united) state. Since then, it has been the national symbol of Italy (the picture is presented below), which embodies the image of a nation that has achieved unity and defeated all its enemies.
At the same time, the original symbolism of the “Stellone d" Italia emblem, which was known here back in antiquity, is unknown. But the meaning of another national symbol of Italy, the gear wheel, which is also present on the modern coat of arms of this country, is known for sure. The gear wheel is an image mass labor. It is believed that he embodies the first article of the Italian Constitution, which states that Italy is a sovereign republic based on free labor.
Another symbol of the country of Italy, which is also present on state emblem, it's an olive branch. In principle, the meaning of this emblem is universal, the olive is a symbol of peace (as it is positioned - the embodiment of the eleventh article of the Italian Constitution, where the country rejects armed aggression as a tool foreign policy). Nevertheless, knowing the history of this region even superficially, it is not entirely clear how legitimate it is to call the Italians a "peace-loving" people. On the other hand, the olive is one of the most common plants in Italy.
Another "plant" symbol of Italy (you can find a picture of the country's coat of arms with all the emblems listed above) is an oak branch (if wider - just an oak). The symbolism of the oak here is no less obvious (and, I must say, more realistic than the symbolism of the olive), it indicates the strength, stamina and courage of the Italian people. In addition, the oak is a primordial symbol of wisdom, and given the ancient past of the region, this is true.
Continuing the theme of floristic emblematics, it is worth mentioning that sometimes the daisy is also called the symbol of Italy, but this emblem is less local and in the era of the Christianization of Europe was widespread throughout the continent (here we must recall the universal symbolism of this flower in the context of its correlation with the image of the Virgin Mary).
Another truly ancient and sacred Italian symbol associated with its "pagan" past is Capitoline she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus. Given the mythological background of the image, the she-wolf (as the image of the mother-protector) is really fair to call a symbol ancient Rome and Italy, as the heir of this once mighty state.
The national flag of Italy, il Tricolore, as the Italians themselves lovingly call it, is one of the main symbols of the state, along with the anthem. The tricolor with vertical stripes of green, white and red appeared much earlier than the state itself.
The history of the creation of the Italian il Tricolore begins at the end of the 17th century. Two students - Luigi Zamboni and Giovanni Battista De Rolandis - fought for the independence of Bologna, at that time under the rule of the Holy See.
In the autumn of 1794, they revolted. According to some reports, Napoleon Bonaparte was behind the unrest, preparing an invasion of the Apennines.
As a distinctive sign, the rebels used cockades of green-white-red color, similar to the badge of revolutionary France. The blue color on them was replaced with green, representing hope. But the hopes of the rebels then did not come true. The uprising was suppressed by the papal guards, and for the instigators the story ended sadly. Luigi Zamboni hanged himself in his cell, unable to bear the brutal torture, and Giovanni Battista De Rolandis was publicly executed.
The memory of the martyrs of the revolution was immortalized by Napoleon. One of the first decrees in occupied Bologna, he ordered the reburial of the organizers of the rebellion on Mount Mantagnola (Montagnola). Napoleon completed the work of the revolutionaries: he eliminated the power of the Holy See and recognized the free Cispadan Republic as a vassal of Bonapartist France. The banner of the student uprising became the official symbol of the new state. The stripes on it were horizontal, and the coat of arms is depicted in the center. From here the legs of the popular myth “grow” that the flag of Italy was invented personally by Bonaparte.
Royal Standard
In 1797, Napoleon united the Cispadan and Transpadan republics into the Cisalpine, and the standard acquired its usual form with vertical stripes of the same colors. The flag of France was taken as the basis.
Five years later, the Cisalpine Republic (Repubblica Cisalpina, 1797-1802) became Italian (Repubblica Italiana, 1802-1805), and its banner underwent major changes. The coloring remained unchanged, but the stripes were replaced by squares: against a scarlet background, a white rhombus with a green square inside.
In 1804, the vector of the country's development changed: Napoleon turned the republic into a kingdom. The changes were reflected in heraldry - the imperial eagle appeared on the state standard.
Another ten years passed, Napoleon was defeated, and the history of the empire of his empire ended. Italy again lost its unity, and with it the royal banner.
national symbol
Despite the fragmentation, the green-white-red flag remained a sign of the national unification of the Risorgimento (il risorgimento - rebirth, renewal). Echoes of the Napoleonic banner and its colors continued to live in the heraldry of the Italian lands.
The Sardinian version of the tricolor - the blue-red coat of arms of Sardinia and the crown against the background of green, white and red stripes - became the state for the entire Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) precisely because the leader of the liberation movement against the Austrian occupation (Giuseppe Garibaldi) was from this islands and went into battle with like-minded people under the flag of his native Sardinian kingdom.
The years of the Second World War were marked by the short existence of the fascist Italian Republic in the north of the Apennine Peninsula.
Her symbol is the same tricolor, with a Roman eagle in the middle. With the end of World War II, the flag of Italy lost its coat of arms and acquired modern look approved by the 1947 Constitution.
What do the colors mean
The flag of Italy, according to the Constitution of 1947, has the following colors: "green", "white", "red".
Until the beginning of the XXI century about more exact definition No one thought about shades. But with the development of digital printing and computer design, this question has become relevant. Colors are digitally encoded and exact description. In official documents, the coloring of the flag according to the Pantone system is now described as follows: Scarlet Red (“Scarlet”), Fern Green (“Green Fern”), Bright White (“Bright White”).
According to the generally accepted version, the meaning of the colors is as follows: green symbolizes hope, white is traditionally considered the color of faith, and red represents love. The Italians themselves are ironic that the coloring of their flag is just a tribute to the national cuisine: red is tomatoes, white is cheese, and green is lettuce. In Russia, this interpretation of the symbol of the country that gave the world pizza and pasta is also very popular.
The tricolors of some countries are very similar to the Italian one. The flags of Mexico and Italy are often confused with each other. Their coloring is identical, but Mexico has a coat of arms in the center, which is not always used.
The coat of arms is not used on the naval banner of Mexico, which made it impossible to establish the Italian tricolor as a universal national symbol, as is implemented in France.
Less commonly, confusion arises with the tricolor of Ireland. The difference between the standards of the countries is in the color of the last strip: red for Italy, orange for Ireland.
To distinguish between them, it is enough to remember that red hair is very common in Ireland. Coloring is not the only difference: Ireland has a more square tricolor.
Another similar state symbol is in Hungary.
The stripes of the same colors on the standard of Hungary are arranged horizontally, as on the flag of Russia, the coloring is brighter, and the aspect ratio of the Hungarian tricolor is the same as that of Ireland (2:1).
Other countries whose flags are similar to Italian include Côte d'Ivoire, India and Niger.
Few countries can boast the same love for the national symbol as the inhabitants of the Apennines. National Flag Day (Festa del tricolore) is celebrated in Italy on January 7th and has great importance for Italians. On this festive day, they decorate their houses with tricolors and wear clothes of the same colors.
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The South European state, located in the very center of the Mediterranean, has the largest number of historical memorable places. This attracts a lot of tourists who need to know the state symbols of this country. The topic of the article is the coat of arms of Italy, as well as interesting points associated with its appearance.
History of creation
The birth of the official symbol of the Italian Republic was preceded by a long work for two years. In 1946, a competition was launched, organized by the Gasperi cabinet, which created a special commission headed by Ivanoe Bonomi. The contestants were given a number of conditions:
- mandatory inclusion in the sketch of a five-pointed star, which has been used in state symbols since 1890 and personified the defense of the nation;
- a ban on the use of symbols of political parties.
Everyone was allowed to participate, and the government promised 10,000 liras to the authors of the best projects. Of the 800 submitted sketches, the commission selected five, the authors of which were given a more specific task. For example, a crown-shaped tower was supposed to be in the center. The winner was Paolo Paschetto, a professor who received an additional prize of 50,000 lire.
The alleged coat of arms of Italy in 1947 was placed in exhibition center but it didn't get 100% approval. Many wanted to see the symbol of labor on the sketch. The commission was updated and a second competition was announced, in which Paschetto again won. The sketch was approved by the Constitutional Assembly on January 31, 1948. In May, by decree of President de Nicola, it became the official symbol of the republic.
Description
Let's take a closer look at the coat of arms of Italy. What does each element mean? Let's highlight four main parts in the main photo:
- Five pointed star.
- Gear wheel in the background.
- Branches of olive and oak.
- Red ribbon with the inscription.
Each endowed special significance, which we will discuss below. Even in ancient times, the iconographic image of the country represented a five-pointed star. With its radiant radiance, it personified the image of the state. The star has been present since 1890 on the coat of arms of the kingdom, associating with the defense of the nation. Today it testifies to belonging to the armed forces of Italy.
In the picture above, we see a crown symbolizing the monarchy, although after the Nazis came to power in 1922, all the reins of government were in the hands of the party leader, who appropriated the title of Duce - leader. Having begun his political career in the ranks of the socialists, Mussolini, the son of a blacksmith, plunged the country into the "Black Twenty", proving Nietzsche's postulate that "everything is permitted" in the world. In the center of the coat of arms are an ax and a bundle of rods. This idea goes back to ancient Rome and symbolizes the power that the officials. The Italians perceived the coat of arms as a call for the unity of the nation. And the ax at the same time clearly demonstrated what happens to those who encroach on this unity. In 1945, the Duce was executed.
Coat of arms of Rome
Speaking about the symbols of the state, it is interesting to take a closer look at the coats of arms of Italian cities, the main of which is its capital. The history of Rome, the oldest settlement, presumably founded in the 8th century. BC e., attracts travelers from all over the world. Its official symbol looks simple at first glance. This is an English shield that hides old traditions and genuine British qualities: honor, dignity, nobility. Red represents fire, fearlessness, love. Often it is associated with the shed blood in the struggle for independence.
And what is the translation of the abbreviation SPQR? They contain the motto of Rome, implying the unity of the people and state power. Italians, who tend to see humor in everything, decipher it in their own way: "a pacified pope is a pacified kingdom." The coat of arms of the capital looks like the emblem of some football club, which lacks the main attribute with which the divine origin of Rome is associated - the she-wolf who nursed Remus and Romulus.
Other cities
What did the coat of arms of Italy bring to the symbols of other settlements? Consider for comparison the attributes of two more cities - Milan and Turin. Please note: all three have a jagged crown, symbolizing walls and towers. ancient rome. All of them are made in the form of a shield. On the symbol of Milan, we see the familiar branches of olive and oak. The red cross on a white background represents the heroism of the Milanese, who were the first to set up a cross in Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
The crown on the coat of arms of Turin testifies to the conferment of the city's title of count. Special colors speak of the Swiss type of shield with the main symbol - a bull. It emphasizes the privileged character of the city.
The Italian flag, one of the most important state symbols of the country, is a rectangular panel divided into three equal vertical parts, painted in different colors: near the pole - saturated green, middle clean White, but on the edge bright red.
The aspect ratio of the flag is 2:3. The Italians call their flag il Tricolore - Tricolor - and treat it with great respect. In 2005, the country adopted a law on a fine of 1000-1500 euros for desecration of this state symbol.
The history of the Italian flag began long before the existence of the modern state. IN late XVIII century, two Bolognese students Luigi Zamboni and Giovanni De Rolandis organized a rebellion for the independence of their homeland - Bologna, which at that time was under the rule of the Holy See under the leadership of Pope Pius VI. It is likely that Napoleon Bonaparte, who was just preparing an invasion of Italy, was behind this uprising, so his secret services actively cooperated with two rebel students.
The tricolor cockades, consisting of stripes of green, white and red, became the symbol of the rebellion. They looked like a symbol french revolution- a similar tricolor, in which instead of green was used blue color. According to one version, green was chosen from the uniform of the Italian police, another version says that this shade represents hope. Be that as it may, the rebellion failed, the students were captured by the papal guards, who conducted a brutal interrogation, as a result of which Luigi Zamboni hanged himself in his prison cell, and the second student was publicly executed.
Napoleon took care of the reburial of the organizers of the uprising and continued their work - he overthrew the power of the Holy See and formed the Cispadan Republic, which included Bologna, Modena, Ferrara and Reggio. He recognized her as free, although in fact she was a vassal republic of France. For the base of the flag new country the banner of the uprising was taken - this is how the first prototype of the modern Italian flag appeared, which was distinguished by a horizontal arrangement of stripes and an image of a coat of arms in the middle.
In 1797, the Cispadan Republic merged with the neighboring Transpadanian (Milan, Mantua, part of the Venetian Republic), forming a single country - the Cisalpine Republic, which also remained a satellite of France. Its flag acquired a vertical arrangement of stripes. In 1802, in connection with the renaming of the Republic to Italian, its flag also changed - the colors remained the same, but squares and rhombuses appeared instead of stripes. Two years later, Napoleon established a kingdom in Italy, and the imperial eagle appeared on the new flag.
After the overthrow of Napoleon's power, Italy became a fragmented country, but the tricolor was not forgotten - it continued to be used in the symbolism of the Italian lands. Even during the fascist regime in Italy, the flag retained its appearance with three vertical stripes, and a Roman eagle appeared on its panel. Finally, in 1947, Italy adopted the final version of the flag - the most concise, without a coat of arms and other decorations.
The symbolism of the Italian flag is ambiguous. Since the tricolor was borrowed from France, it is believed that it means freedom, equality and fraternity. Perhaps the white and red colors appeared on the flag in connection with the symbol of Milan - the cross of Ambrose of Milan. The Italians themselves jokingly say that the colors of the flag symbolize the national cuisine: tomatoes, mozzarella and lettuce.
The modern coat of arms of Italy was adopted in 1948, and its creation began two years earlier, with the establishment of a competition for the best coat of arms among Italian artists. In connection with the formation of the new Italian Republic, it was ordered to come up with a new version of the country's coat of arms, which would not use political symbols. Paolo Paschetto's project won - a black-and-white sketch, which turned into a modern color version of the coat of arms, combining the colors of the flag - white, red and green.
In the center of the Italian coat of arms is located white five-pointed star with a red border- one of ancient symbols country, personifying the defense of the nation. It is superimposed on the image of a cogwheel, which on the one hand refers to the first article of the constitution, which speaks of labor as the basis of the state, and on the other hand resembles the ancient Roman emblem in the form of towers and battlements. The wheel is framed by an olive branch, a symbol of peace, and an oak branch, a sign of the strength of the nation. In addition, these are the most common trees in the country. At the bottom, the branches are tied with a red ribbon bearing the inscription Republica Italiana with an archaic image of the letter u, a tribute to the people who made the history of the country in ancient times.
We consider plants-symbols and national flowers of the countries of the world, official and folk. Look at which countries which flower has become a symbol and what has earned people's love.
Flowers and plants - national symbols and defenders of the country
Flowers have penetrated deeply into our lives and have taken an important place there, and some of their species even influence the existence of states.
For example, as a symbol of Scotland - thistle, which back in the 13th century protected the Scots from the attack of the Normans. During one of the raids, the Normans decided to attack at night and so that no one would hear them, they took off their shoes.
But for a long time they could not go barefoot as they stepped on thistles. Starting to scream in pain, they betrayed themselves and the plan failed, and the Scots made the thistle their symbol.
A fact of this magnitude speaks volumes. Many flowers have become the hallmark of countries, and some of them are an important part of the economy.
- Being the flower symbol of the country is a great honor, deserved by centuries of people's love.
Many national flowers of the countries of the world not only pleased the inhabitants with their appearance and aroma, but became real life savers. During famine, terrible epidemics and devastation, they saved people from death.
It is not surprising that society has not forgotten its heroes, and flowers have become a symbol of warmth and kindness. We would like to bring to your attention some national flowers of the countries of the world.
National flowers and plants of the countries of the world - symbols of states
Austria
England- The Rose. (Tudor Rose). The national flower of England has a long and impressive history associated with many sometimes tragic events.
Argentina- Erythrina (Cockscomb). Ceibo (Erythrina Christa-Galli), officially adopted flower on December 2, 1942.
Belarus- Linen. Flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Belgium- Poppy Red. Red Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas)
Bulgaria- Rose
Brazil- Orchid Cattleya. CattleyaOrchid (CattleyaLabiata)
Venezuela— Orchid
Hungary- Tulip. Tulip (Tulipa)
Germany- Cornflower. Knapweed (Centaurea cyanus)
Greece- Akant. Bear's Breech (Acanthus Mollis)
Egypt- Lotus. Lotus (Nymphaea Lotus)
India- Lotus. Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera)
Spain- Red clove. red carnation
Ireland- Clover. The national flower of Ireland is the Shamrock clover, which is the common name for several unrelated trifoliate herbaceous plants).
Italy- Lily. Styled Lily
Canada- Sugar maple. The maple leaf has been considered the national flower of Canada for over 150 years. The national symbol of Canada was born in the province of Quebec.
China- Plum. Plum Blossom (Prunus Mei)
Colombia- Orchid. Christmas orchid (Cattleya Trianae)
Cuba- Jasmine. Butterfly Jasmine (Mariposa)
Latvia- Common cornflower. Oxeye Daisy, or Pipene (Leucanthemum Vulgare)
Lithuania- Gracious mint. Rue or Herb of Grace (Ruta graveolens)
Malta- Paleocentaurea. The national flower of Malta is a very amazing and rare plant. Paleocentaurea grows only in Malta and belongs to the plants of the Ice Age.
The popular name of the national flower of Malta is translated as "sea ears or ears of the sea" due to the fact that the paleocentaurea grows very close to the sea on coastal hills. At present, the flower symbol of Malta is much easier to find in a city flower bed than in natural conditions.
Netherlands (Holland)- Tulip. Tulip (Tulipa)
New Zealand- Flower of the Kauvai tree (from the Maori language). Kowhai Kowhai or botanically known as Sophora Microphylla, is a beautiful yellow or golden flower.
Norway— Heather ( Calluna vulgaris). The national flower of Norway is spelled røsslyng in the local language. The plant is an excellent honey plant and is used to make a special kind of beer - heather ale.
Pakistan- Jasmine White. The national flower of Pakistan in the local language sounds like "chambeli".
Paraguay- Jasmine of Paraguay. Jasmine-of-the-Paraguay
Peru- Cantuta. Kantuta, magical flower of the Incas.
Poland- The poppy is red. Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas)
Portugal- Lavender. Lavender
Russia- The flower is a symbol of Russia - Chamomile. Camomile (Matricaria recutita)
Romania- Rose hip. Dog Rose (Rosa Canina)
Slovenia- Carnation. Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus)
USA- The Rose. Officially approved as the national flower of the United States in October 1985, the rose is referred to as the "national flower emblem".
Tajikistan- Tulip. The national flower of Tajikistan occupies a special place in folk culture. In honor of the tulip, the national holiday "sair-lola" is held annually.
Turkey- Tulip. Tulip (Tulipa)
Ukraine- Sunflower. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Uruguay- Erythrina (Cockscomb). Ceibo Erythrina (Christa Galli)
Finland- May lily of the valley. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria Majalis)
France- Iris. iris
Croatia- Iris Croatian. Iris Croatica (Hrvatska Perunika)
Czech- Rose
Switzerland- Edelweiss. Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
Sweden- Linnaeus. Linnea (Linnea Borealis)
Scotland- Roadside thistle. Thistle (Cirsium Altissimum)
Estonia- Cornflower. Corn-flower or Bachelor's Button Centaurea (Cyanus). The national flower of Estonia was chosen as a result of a television poll in 1968. Cornflower has been growing in modern Estonia for over 10,000 years. The national flower of Estonia is a symbol of the people's movement for the country's independence.
South Africa— Proteus. The national flower of South Africa is named after the sea god. The plant has fantastic drought tolerance.
Jamaica- Iron Tree or Tree of Life. Lignum Vitae or Wood of Life (Guaiacum Sanctum)
Japan- Chrysanthemum, Sakura. Chrysanthemum (Imperial), Cherry Blossom Sakura. The national flower of Japan is very revered by the locals and sakura flowers are to some extent even sacred to the Japanese.
Flowers are symbols of their countries
Plants-symbols of countries: conclusion
These are the usual and unusual national flowers of the countries of the world. Some flowers are native and have a natural habitat, while others were imported and loved so much that they became associated with this country.
- Like tulips in Holland, they were brought from Persia to Antwerp in the 16th century, and then they got such a crazy spread and love of the population that it's hard to believe that this is not their flower.
- As we can see from this list, popular flowers are: tulip, rose, orchid, carnation, iris, cornflower. Countries located close to each other with similar climatic conditions have similar plants.
- Austria and Switzerland - alpine edelweiss, Argentina and Uruguay - erythrina (cockscomb), Bulgaria and Romania - rose and wild rose.
Now you know which flowers are the symbol of which country, as well as which national flower is the symbol of Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, Ireland, Canada, Malta, Estonia, Tajikistan, Norway, Japan, South Africa and other countries.