On top of the shield is a shell that symbolizes the various marine life of the island chain. Below this is the actual shield, main symbol which is the ship - Santa Maria of Christopher Columbus. Below, the rising sun is a symbol of the young nation. The animals supporting the shield are national symbols. At the base of the coat of arms is the national motto. The flamingo is located on land and the marlin is in the sea, indicating the geography of the islands.

The bright colors of the coat of arms are also intended to indicate a bright future for the islands. It is believed that the islands will be attractive to tourists.

Dependent territories

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An excerpt characterizing the Coat of Arms of the Bahamas

“Don’t talk to me... I beg you,” Pierre whispered hoarsely.
- Why shouldn’t I tell you! “I can speak and will boldly say that it is a rare wife who, with a husband like you, would not take lovers (des amants), but I did not,” she said. Pierre wanted to say something, looked at her with strange eyes, the expression of which she did not understand, and lay down again. He was physically suffering at that moment: his chest was tight, and he could not breathe. He knew that he had to do something to stop this suffering, but what he wanted to do was too scary.
“It’s better for us to part,” he said falteringly.
“Part up, if you please, only if you give me a fortune,” said Helen... Separate, that’s what scared me!
Pierre jumped up from the sofa and staggered towards her.
- I'll kill you! - he shouted, and grabbing a marble board from the table, with a force still unknown to him, he took a step towards it and swung at it.
Helen's face became scary: she squealed and jumped away from him. His father's breed affected him. Pierre felt the fascination and charm of rage. He threw the board, broke it and, with open arms, approaching Helen, shouted: “Get out!!” in such a terrible voice that the whole house heard this scream with horror. God knows what Pierre would have done at that moment if
Helen did not run out of the room.

A week later, Pierre gave his wife power of attorney to manage all the Great Russian estates, which amounted to more than half of his fortune, and alone he left for St. Petersburg.

V modern form exists since 1971

Ocean clam shell, found on the shores and coastal waters of the Bahamas, surrounded by royal palm branches, growing on the islands.

Rising sun symbolizes a wonderful climate and attractiveness for tourism.

The country receives approximately 2 million foreign tourists per year (with a population of 300 thousand people).

Shield holder - marlin fish from the family of sailboats.

Knight's helmet characteristic of the heraldry of former British possessions: in 1783, the Bahamas became a colony of Great Britain; They gained independence only in 1973.

Shield holder - flamingo, the national bird of the Bahamas.

Columbus's caravel "Santa Maria": The Bahamas were the first land in the Americas that Columbus set foot on.

Waves ocean... washing island.

Motto on English, it translates " Together forward, higher and further” and expresses the desire for progress through the joint efforts of the entire population. A competition was announced in the country for the best motto for the national emblem. The author of the adopted version was 11-year-old schoolchildren from Nassau (the capital of the Bahamas) Vivian Moultrie and Melvern Bove.

honored with the coat of arms of the Bahamas

blue marlin reaches 5 meters in length and 900 kilograms of weight. True, the largest of the reliably weighed specimens pulled out only 726 kg. Weight does not prevent the marlin from making truly acrobatic jumps. Blue marlin has tasty meat, which is why this fish is a desirable trophy for anglers.

On the foremast "Santa Maria"- the pennant of Columbus's expedition (white with a green cross and the first letters of the names of the Spanish royal couple who sent the expedition - Ferdinand and Isabella), and on the main and mizzen masts - the then flag and pennant of Spain with the lion of Leon and the castles of Castile. The caravel reminds us that one of eastern islands Bahamian archipelago, San Salvador (aka Watlings), became the first land of the New World, discovered by Columbus in 1492.

This is how the famous history researcher describes the Bahamian meeting of Europe and America geographical discoveries I.P. Magidovich:

On October 11, everything testified to the undoubted proximity of land. Great excitement gripped the sailors. At 2 o'clock in the morning on October 12, 1492, Rodrigo Triana, a sailor of the Pinta ahead, shouted that land was visible in the distance.
The Pinta fired a signal. The sails were removed on all ships. In the morning, land opened up, which Columbus characterizes as follows: “This island is very large and level, and there are a lot of green trees and water, and in the middle there is a very big lake. There are no mountains.”
The crossing lasted 33 days. Atlantic Ocean from Homer to this western island. Boats were lowered from the ships. Columbus, with both captains Pinson, a notary and a royal comptroller, landed on shore - now as admiral of the sea-ocean and viceroy - and hoisted the Castilian banner. Then he formally took possession of the island and drew up a notarial deed to this effect...

On the island the Spaniards saw naked people. [These were the Arawak people], who after 20-30 years were completely exterminated by the Spanish colonialists...

On the island, Columbus was given a gift of “dry leaves, which were especially valued by the locals” [the first reference to tobacco]. The inhabitants called their island Guanahani. Columbus, of course, gave him a Christian name - San Salvador ("Savior"), and this name stuck with one of the eastern Bahamas, lying at 24° N. latitude. However, there is no complete certainty that Columbus landed here. At least five other supposed sites for Columbus's first landing have been named; all of them are located in the outer, eastern chain of the Bahamas archipelago.

The official symbols of many countries of the world are built in full accordance with the basic tenets of heraldic science. And yet, sometimes the mentality of the authors of a sketch or project plays a decisive role, and then unique emblems are born. For example, the coat of arms of the Bahamas, although based on classical principles, still looks quite exotic.

Pink flamingo and blue marlin

On official symbol The following elements are located in the Bahamas:

• classic shield divided into two halves;
• a shield in the form of a shell, topped with a burelet;
• shield holders represented by marlin and flamingo;
• Phrygian cap and palm tree crowning the composition.

It would seem to be a classic construction, characteristic of many countries of the Old and New Worlds. And yet there are significant differences. Firstly, a heraldry connoisseur is surprised by the choice of colors for the emblem, which turned out to be very colorful, with blue and red, green and orange, yellow and pink tones. One version of why almost all the colors of the rainbow are present in the image of the coat of arms says that multicolor symbolizes the bright future of this young state. In addition, such a cheerful coat of arms of the Bahamas can serve as an attraction for tourists.

Secondly, bright representatives of the local fauna were chosen to play the role of shield holders, but not the familiar lions or leopards. On the right the shield is held by a pink flamingo, on the left by a blue marlin. They are considered the national animal of the Bahamas, although they are widespread, found in different regions planets. Blue marlin holds the record for the largest in its family, and dishes made from it are considered delicacies.

There is another feature - the bird stands on a green base, and the fish is located vertically, resting on the ocean waves. This emphasizes the important role of the ocean in the life of the state.

Solar shield

The image of the shield on the coat of arms is made in traditional style: it is divided into two parts, at the top, blue is drawn rising sun. The luminary acts as a symbol of the young nation. This element is quite often present on emblems and coats of arms different countries. In the lower, silver part, Christopher Columbus’s ship “Santa Maria” floats on the waves, which brought him world fame and remained in history. The ship also serves as a symbol of the developed maritime industry in the Bahamas, which is an integral and important part of the economy.