The shield of Nayarit represents the values, qualities and properties of the state of Nayarit. Nayarit means son of God who is in Heaven and in the sun. It is used as a symbol of unity, identity and belonging, to personalize the history, culture and heritage of its people.
The upper left section is red. It is represented by a golden cane of corn with ears, known as Tepitl (from the Aztec word Tepictu), a kind of corn from the region that is harvested in fifty days.
The upper right section is yellow. It has a bow and an arrow to symbolize King Nayar, Naye or Nayarit, as various historians indisputably call it. He was King of the Cora tribe, God of war and creator of the bow and arrow.
The lower section and base of the shield is turquoise blue. It represents the mountainous nature of the territory and the profile of the Sangangüey hill, an extinct volcano southeast of Tepic.
In the center of the small escutcheon or shield with a silver border, there are seven traces of human feet distributed symmetrically.
Its meaning symbolizes the pilgrimage of the seven Nahuatlaca Tribes, who traveled from Aztlán to Tenochtitlán.
In the central part of the gusset there is a small purple shield, with the "Eagle of Aztlán" drawn in the petroglyph style within a green circle.
Legend has it that the pilgrims saw an eagle eating a snake on a cactus, and were instructed to build the city in that same place.
Official modifications
The shield of Nayarit has had three official modifications over the years.
Since the creation of the Free and Sovereign State, Nayarit was one of the last territories to form part as a State of the Mexican federation in 1917, which is why federative entities without a representative shield were urged to choose their own.
In 1930, the then Governor of Nayarit Don Luis Castillo Ledón, called a competition for the creation of a heraldic symbol for the state.
The winner was Miguel Lanzagorta Escutia, who made the design the first official shield of Nayarit.
The current shield has respected the original design and the only pertinent change compared to Miguel Lanzagorta's shield resides in the center of the shield.
The original design has a blue gusset with a red transverse band that personalizes the coat of arms of the conqueror Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán.
On November 11, 1970, decree number 5270 was published in the Official Government Newspaper and granted the category of State Coat of Arms to the 1930 design.
The shield had no major changes, except for the central escutcheon which is represented by a white border and adorned with eight black ermines.
Inside, two checkered kettles of gold and red on a blue background.
Last modification
The last modification of the shield was made in 1993, under the direction of Governor Lic. Celso Humberto Delgado Ramírez, through decree number 7633, published in the Official State Gazette, file 13, Vol. CLIV, on August 14, 1993.
References
- Bell, Betty. (1971). Archeology of Nayarit, Jalisco and Colina, in Handbook of middle American Indians II, University of Texas.
- López, Pedro G. (1986). Tour through the history of Nayarit. Mexico. Autonomous University of Nayarit.
- Lumholz, Carl. (nineteen eighty one). The Unknown Mexico, 1 vols. Mexico. Reissue of the INI.
- Meyer, Jean. (1997). Brief History of Nayarit. Mexico, Edition of the Fondo de Cultura Económica and El Colegio de México.
- Weigand, Phil C. (1993) Evolution of a pre-Hispanic civilization. College of Michoacán.