Coat of arms of Crimea

Coat of arms of Crimea
Details
Armiger	Crimea
Adopted	24 September 1992
Escutcheon	Gules, a Griffin passant Argent, holding in dexter talon an Oyster Shell also Argent, containing a Pearl Azure.
Supporters	On either side, a Pillar Argent
Motto	Prosperity in unity (Russian: Процветание в единстве)

The coat of arms of Crimea (Russian: Герб Крыма, Ukrainian: Герб Криму) is the official coat of arms of the partially recognized Republic of Crimea within the Russian Federation and Autonomous Republic of Crimea that Ukraine claims to still have under its sovereignty. The coat of arms has been in use since 1992 and was officially adopted on April 21, 1999.

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. The red field of the coat of arms symbolizes the heroic and dramatic 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.

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