The Guayaquil shield consists of a sky-blue circumference, in the center of which is a white five-pointed star. On the sides of the circumference there are two olive branches, which are joined by a red ribbon knotted in the form of a bow.
At the bottom of the shield, the inscription "For Independent Guayaquil" is read. However, this was not always the city's official coat of arms.
For example, during colonial times the shield consisted of a castle that was erected on a silver field. The blazon also featured a lion in a rampant position holding a flag.
History
The Guayaquil coat of arms has been modified since colonial times. In the 16th century, Captain Diego de Urbina created a coat of arms to represent the city.
The shield featured a stone-colored castle. To his left (from the observer's point of view) was a rampant lion holding a flagpole.
This symbol represented the city until 1820, when Guayaquil declared its independence from the Spanish Crown.
In that year the Free Province of Guayaquil and the Superior Government Board were formed, which acted as the regulatory body of the city.
One of the decrees of said higher board was that all legal documents issued by the council should bear a distinctive seal.
This seal consisted of a star surrounded by a crown of olive trees, a red ribbon and a legend that read "For Independent Guayaquil."
Its creation is attributed to José Joaquín Olmedo, who was the president of the Superior Government Board of the Free Province of Guayaquil in 1820. Olmedo was also the creator of the official flag of the city.
In 1916 this symbol was transformed into a shield. However, it was not until November 1920 that this coat of arms was adopted as the official symbol of the city.
Meaning
Blue circumference
The sky blue color of the circumference represents values associated with the city of Guayaquil, such as justice, loyalty, charity, honesty and courage.
Red tie
The red color in the tie represents the courage, the daring, the strength of the peoples, the war that gave the city independence and the blood shed during this war.
Inscription
The inscription “Por Guayaquil Independiente” commemorates the fight for the independence of the city.
On October 9, 1820, this city was proclaimed free, which totally separated itself from the yoke of the Spanish.
Star
The star in the center of the blazon is an element taken from the Guayaquil flag.
Olive leaves
The olive leaves represent the prosperity of the city, the richness of its fields and the fertility of the lands. Also, these branches symbolize peace and victory.
References
- Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from crwflags.com
- Flag of Ecuador. Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from britannica.com
- Guayaquil Canton (Guayas, Ecuador). Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from crwflags.com
- Guayaquil Coat of Arms. Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from crwflags.com
- Historic Cities of the Americas: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Retrieved on December 16, 2017, from books.google.com