CHICLAYO SHIELD: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - HISTORY - 2025

The Chiclayo shield was designed by the Chiclayo journalist, painter and classroom teacher, Jesús Alfonso Tello Marchena. This city, capital of the department of Lambayeque, is located in the northeast of Peru.

Its foundation occurred in 1720, when it was named “Santa María de los Valles de Chiclayo”.

The iconography of the official banner of this entity refers to its pre-Columbian past.

Two important cultures developed in its territory: the Mochica and, later, the Lambayeque or Sicán civilization.

This shield also reflects its present, exhibiting pictorial elements that refer to its main economic activity, and to its religious and cultural values.

You may also be interested in the traditions of Chiclayo.

Description and meaning

Tumi

In the heart of the Chiclayo shield is a tumi. This is a Quechua word that means knife.

The tumi was a ceremonial instrument. It is counted among the most famous pieces of pre-Columbian art.

It was used to perform cranial trepanations and possibly to decapitate prisoners of war.

Many authors agree that this object with anthropomorphic features represents Naylamp who, according to legend, founded the Lambayeque culture.

Huerequeque

To the right of the shield is a representation of the bird known as huerequeque. The scientific name of this bird protected by Peruvian law is burhinus superciliaris.

It belongs to the genus plovers and resembles ostriches, but has nocturnal habits. This bird is adapted to run on swampy or semi-desert soils.

For this reason, they commonly inhabit northern Peru, especially in the department of Lambayeque.

Ocean waves

Beneath the huerequeque, three wavy lines are visualized as sea waves. These symbolize an essential element in the history and cultural development of this entity: the sea.

It is common in the Mochica and Lambayeque culture the symbol of the sea wave that includes the head of a mythical creature.

Its importance is such that, from a certain moment in history, myths about the origin of the world began with the arrival from the sea.

Sugar cane plants and factory

On the left side of the Chiclayo shield there are sugar cane plants and the outline of a factory.

This denotes the importance of sugar cane, one of the most important agricultural items in this region.

From the middle of the 19th century, the sugar companies of Chiclayo began to integrate into the world economy. This made this province a very important axis of commerce.

In turn, this has motivated a growth in the population index, ranking as the fourth most populated city in Peru.

Sky blue color

The azure blue, or immaculate blue, is used to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thus, the Chiclayo shield declares his consecration to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.

cross

The cross behind the tumi refers to the faith of Christianity.

References

1. Fuco Tello Marchena: live and die forever. (2010, June 10). In Weekly Expression. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from semanaarioexpresion.com
2. Chiclayo history. (s / f). In Chiclayo.net. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from chiclayo.net.pe
3. Olivera Echegaray, L. (2017, April 20). The tumi or ceremonial knife. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from cuzcoeats.com
4. Huerequeque. (2012, September 29). In Lambayeque. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from lambayeque-peru.com
5. Pimentel Nita, RL (2007). Mochica survivals and archaisms in the Lambayeque style (Sicán). Electronic Journal of Archeology PUCP, Vol. 2, No. 1, March.
6. Lambayeque - Resources. (s / f). In Peru Info. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from peru-info.net
7. Immaculate blue. (2016, December 06). In Diocesan Liturgy Delegation. Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from liturxia.com