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The coat of arms of Warsaw consists of a '' syrenka'' (" little mermaid") in a
red field ''Red Field'' (Portuguese: ''Seara Vermelha'') is a Brazilian Modernist novel. It was written by Jorge Amado. It has not been published in English. Background Jorge Amado published ''Red Field'' in 1946. In 1945, Brazil had entered a period of � ...
. This imagery has been in use since at least the mid-14th century. The syrenka has traditionally held a silver sword although this does not appear on more recent versions.


History

The first
coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
of
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
depicted a dragon with a male human head, carrying a sword and a shield. The first known usage was on a seal from 1390. This is the oldest existing armed seal of Warsaw, consisting of a round seal bordered with the Latin inscription ''Sigilium Civitatis Varsoviensis'' (Seal of the city of Warsaw). Gradually the male head and body was replaced with that of a female, and by the end of 16th century the tail was also changed from that of a dragon to that of a fish. The only remaining parts of the original coat of arms are the sword and shield. Beginning in the early 17th century Warsaw records associate a sword-wielding mermaid with the city. Since 1622, the Warsaw arms have been rendered as a mermaid with sword and shield in hand, representing Melusina from the River
Vistula The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...
(Wisła), who in legend led Duke Bolesław II of Masovia (1262–1313) to the appropriate site (a fishing village) and ordered him to found the city, in about 1294. The origin of the legendary figure is not fully known. The city's motto is, appropriately, ''Contemnit procellas'' ("It defies the storms").


Modern usage

The current official design of the symbol was introduced in 1938 but it was only used in this form until the beginning of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. After 1945,
Communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, ...
authorities changed the emblem by removing the crown. The insignia was restored to the pre-war form on August 15, 1990. In addition there is a "Great Emblem of the Capital City of Warsaw" (''Herb Wielki Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy'') used only for ceremonial occasions. It includes a depiction of the
Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari ( Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', pl, Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was created in 1792 by Polish King S ...
medal, which was awarded to the City to honor the bravery of its citizens during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. It also adds the second motto to the emblem — ''Semper invicta'' (Always invincible). Every member of the Queen's Royal Hussars of the United Kingdom light
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry in ...
wears the ''Maid of Warsaw'', the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of his No. 2 (Service) Dress. Members of 651 Squadron Army Air Corps of the United Kingdom also wear the ''Maid of Warsaw'' on the left sleeve of their No. 2 (Service) Dress.


Statues and sculptures

File:Warsaw Sirene 1659.PNG, The 1659 coat of arms of Old Warsaw on the cover of one of Warsaw's accounting books File:Syrenka na Starowce.JPG, Syrenka statue on Old Town Market square in Warsaw File:Syrena Warszawska.jpg, Syrenka on Powiśle File:Syrenka in the Sejm Plenary Hall.JPG, Syrenka in the Sejm's Plenary Hall


See also

*
Flag of Warsaw The flag of the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is a bicolour rectangle, divided into two equally-sized horizontal stripes: yellow at the top, and red at the bottom. It begun being used in 1938 without official status, and was officially ...
*
Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw The Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw, also known as the Warsaw Nike, is a statue located at the intersection of Nowy Przejazd (the New By-pass) and Aleja Solidarności (Solidarity Avenue) in Warsaw. The monument commemorates all those who died ...
* Warsaw Unicorn


Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coat Of Arms Of Warsaw
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
Culture in Warsaw History of Warsaw Mermaids Polish legends
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...