Flag and coat of arms of Kursk region: history and meaning

The flag and coat of arms of the Kursk region are its official symbols. Each figure and color depicted on them have their own meaning and historical basis.

Flag of the region

The modern flag of the Kursk region was approved in 1996, its colors refer to the flag of Russia of the XIX century. Pick up the flag during important and memorable events relating to the area.

On the rectangular panel there are five colored stripes. The first and last bands are red. The size of the bands is 2/7 of the total width of the panel. Between them are three equal-sized bands of white, yellow and black. Their width is 1/7 of the width of the flag. In the center of the canvas is the coat of arms of the Kursk region, framed by oak leaves and crowned with a golden crown.

The red stripes are symbols of courage, courage that the inhabitants of the region have shown, protecting their lands from enemies. White or silver strip - a symbol of purity and good intentions. This color is placed on the historical coat of arms of the region. Black and yellow stripes characterize the region itself. Black color symbolizes fertile soils, yellow - wheat fields.

Coat of arms of the Kursk Region: description

Shield coat of arms of the French type, painted in silver. On the diagonal from left to right it is crossed by a blue or azure bandage, on which are depicted three flying partridges. Birds with spread wings are deployed to the left.

Golden oak leaves frame the coat of arms, they are embroidered with azure ribbon. Above the shield is a large imperial crown of gold color. Oak leaves and crown at the top are connected by red ribbons.

Historical reference

The official coat of arms of the Kursk region was approved in 1996. The basis for it was the coat of arms of the Kursk province, which operated since 1878. However, the symbol of the province was not original, the same coat of arms for a long time served as a symbol of the city of Kursk.

During the archaeological excavations in Pskov, a casting of copper was found, on which was depicted a coat of arms with flying partridges and the inscription "hail Kursk 1700". Officially, the city symbol was approved in 1730 by Catherine II.

The city's coat of arms has changed several times. In 1859, instead of oak leaves, golden ears, interlaced with a red ribbon, were depicted, and at the top of the shield there was a walled crown. In Soviet times, under the ribbon with birds, a picture appeared that symbolized the industrial power of Kursk, and the name of the city was on top.

In the 90 years of the XX century, the symbol of the industrial bias of the city disappeared. The shield was framed with green oak leaves, bound with a ribbon, painted in the colors of the Russian flag. In 1996, it was decided to return the coat of arms an original historical look.

Symbols of the coat of arms

The silver color of the coat of arms symbolizes spiritual purity. Oak leaves in heraldry are symbols of wisdom, inflexibility and hardness. This symbol was depicted on all regional arms of Russia in the XIX century. The blue or azure sash on the shield is a symbol of the river Kur, near which is Kursk.

The images of the three partridges are treated as a link to an old, still pagan history. Many historians and archaeologists support the assertion that the Slavic tribes living on the territory of the Kursk region were admirers of the Svarog cult.

The pagan god Svarog was the patron saint of blacksmiths. He was often portrayed with a bird on his head - with a falcon or a stork. Researchers associate the image on the coat of arms of partridges, and not falcons, with the wide spread of these birds in the European part of Russia.

Svarog was one of the three gods of Triglav. So called the unity of Svarog, Perun and Svyatovit, representing heaven, earth and the underworld. Therefore, it is three birds that are depicted on the coat of arms of the region.