The coat of arms of Culiacán is the symbolic representation of the said Mexican state. It is based on the fundamental principles on which this territory was founded since it became official in 1831.
The city of Culiacán (Col-hua-can or Cul-hua-can), located in Sinaloa, Mexico, has a historical wealth of great magnitude. The meaning of the name of this place means "place of those who worship the God Coltzin" and this is something that is reflected in its official shield.
History of the Culiacán shield
The city of Culiacán had its origins in pre-Hispanic times when the Nahoas (an ancient tribe originally from Mesoamerica) occupied what is now Sinaloa.
At that time the name of the territory was «Huey-Culhuacán, Colhuacan».
The town of "San Miguel de Culiacán" was officially founded in 1531 by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán. On July 21, 1823, Culiacán was granted the category of city.
The Culiacán coat of arms was not made official until many years later when in 1960 it was published in number 90 of the Official Newspaper of the State of Sinaloa. The Mexican painter and muralist Rolando Arjona Amábilis was its creator.
References to the past are represented on the shield as well as the use of symbols that emphasize the history of the Mexican state of Culiacán and the "destiny of its inhabitants."
Municipal decree number 13 explains the symbols behind the shield and its characteristics, which we will talk about below.
Meaning
According to municipal decree number 13 published in number 90 of the Official Newspaper of the State of Sinaloa, this shield has the following characteristics:
Its edges are of a reddish earth color, which represents the fertile soils and the territory of Culiacán.
Inside is a hieroglyph that represents a hill with a human head tilted forward.
This is a reference to Coltzin ('known as the Twisted God'), originally from Nahuatl mythology who, according to what is said, gave the name to an ancient tribe (Nahuatlaca Colhua), who later recognized the territory as "Colhuacán" or "Teocolhuacán".
Behind the hieroglyph there is a cross and a dirt road with some footprints that lead to a construction.
This is the representation of the missionaries who left San Miguel de Culiacán to the north, to whom a tribute is paid for their goodness and heroism.
In the upper part of the shield the word "Culiacán" is read and in the lower part "Colhuacan", since this was the original name in the Nahuatl language.
You can also see a small hill with a germinating seed with a rising sun in the background, symbolizing the warm climate that characterizes the territory and the agricultural effort of the inhabitants of the place.
References
- Shield and meaning. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from culiacanweb.galeon.com
- State of Sinaloa, Culiacán. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from siglo.inafed.gob.mx
- Shield of Culiacán. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Active Culiacán. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from culiacan.gob.mx
- Osuna Lópes, Faustino. (2014). Rolando Arjona Amábilis, Author of the Shield of Sinaloa, passed away. Retrieved on September 21, 2017, from lavozdelnorte.com.mx