The Puebla shield is a symbol of the State of Puebla that represents the custom, history and values of the Mexican people. It is a reminder of the conquest of the Mexican nation and its miscegenation, between the Spanish and indigenous races.
The shield can be read as a kind of story that narrates the emergence and development of the poblanos, as well as the desires and libertarian struggles that arose. It symbolizes the identification of the pre-Hispanic roots of the State.
Shield composition
This heraldic symbol is covered by two feathered serpents that represent Quetzalcóatl. The word Quetzalcóatl comes from the Nahuatl indigenous language.
Quetzal refers to a beautifully plumaged bird that lives in southeastern Mexico, and coatl means snake. The Spanish conquerors interpreted it, at the time, as a feathered serpent.
Quetzalcóatl is considered a God within the Mexican pre-Hispanic culture, he is known as the creator of order and form from primitive chaos.
Drawing of Quetzalcoatl found in a codex. Via wikimedia commons.
It represents the incessant fight against evil and it could even be said that Quetzalcóatl seemed to protect the Puebla entity by surrounding the shield with his body.
In the column of Quetzalcoatl's body the footsteps of ancient men are marked, walking towards the head of God. Specifically, there are ten human footprints walking skyward on each side of the shield.
Between the two heads of Quetzalcóatl the God Tlaloc converges, he is known as the protector God of agriculture for being the god of the storm and rain, since he defended the crops.
Under it, there are four representative mountains of Puebla: the Popocatépetl, the Iztaccíhuatl, the Citlalpetl and the Matlalcuéyatl, characteristic reliefs of the region for being the highest in the Mexican Republic.
Popocatepetl volcano (Mexico). Source:
On the inner edge, there is the main field that runs along the entire white shield, with the motto "united in time, effort, justice and hope." A slogan that reflects the feeling and spirit of the people of Puebla.
At the base of the shield a gold ribbon flutters with the motto "Free and sovereign state of Puebla."
Shield Barracks
The shield is divided into four quarters of the same size and a small central gusset. However, each represents a different theme.
On a green and yellow background is the right-handed upper barracks, with the design of an industry with three huge smoking chimneys, which represents the national textile industry founded in 1835 by Don Esteban de Antuñano.
The sinister upper barracks is the Necaxa dam north of Puebla. It was the first hydroelectric plant in the city and the first in Mexico.
With a red background in the shape of a flame and a triumphant arm wielding a carbine, the right-hand lower barracks symbolizes the libertarian struggle of the Mexican people with the first social revolution of the 20th century.
In the sinister lower barracks, there is a hand holding a cornfield, and it means the first agrarian distribution in 1911.
The central shield is a landscape of Puebla with an inscription that reads "May 5, 1862".
It is known as a day of national pride after the Mexican army defeated the French.
References
- Coat of Arms of Puebla. (sf). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Wikipedia:
- Cordero, Enrique T (APA). (1965) Comprehensive History of the State of Puebla. Mexico. Bohemia Poblana.
- Mexico States. (sf). Retrieved on March 16, 2012, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
- State of Puebla. (sf). Retrieved on September 20, 2017, from Wikipedia.
- The Oldest American? Footprints from the Past. (sf). Retrieved on November 13, 2010, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.