The Quito coat of arms is one of the patriotic symbols of the capital of Ecuador. It represents both the city of San Francisco de Quito and the country in general and represents the strength, nobility and geography of the region.
Although it was slightly modified in 1944, the design has remained largely the same since its inception in 1541.
It was granted to Ecuador by King Carlos I of Spain after giving Quito the title that accredited it as a city.
It is the oldest shield among all the cities of Ecuador and was used for the acts of the old City Council since it was received from Spain.
History of the Quito coat of arms
Inside the shield you can see several elements that represent in a certain way some characteristics of Quito, in addition to several distinctions that the Spanish Crown believed symbolized the qualities of the inhabitants of the place, such as their loyalty.
The royalty of the Spanish Empire ordered the elaboration of a shield, after being granted by means of the first Royal Certificate the recognition of Quito as a city, being founded on December 6, 1534.
This was presented in the municipality of Talavera de la Reina, in Spain, on March 14, 1541.
From the moment it was made, it became the official symbol of the Cabildo de Quito, being a highly appreciated and representative element of Ecuador, but above all of the inhabitants of the capital.
Elements of the Quito coat of arms
Looking at the shield, it can be seen that it is adorned on the outside with various classic additions of the time to symbols and coats of arms, such as feathers, flowers, bunches of fruit, and a helmet.
Inside the inner coat of arms there is a castle surrounded by mountains, which in turn have entrances to caves inside.
At the top of the castle there is a cross and to the sides of this two black eagles that support the structure.
A cord borders the image on the outside of the coat of arms, between the landscape with the castle and the curb.
Meaning
Part of the Royal Decree where the shield was described expressed the words “A silver castle tucked between two hills or rocks”. The castle represents a properly guarded fortress or city.
The mountains in front of the castle have a double meaning; that of walling the city to make it safe (a fortress) and as an example of the classic geography of Quito, which has numerous mountains and hills.
The remarkable mining activity by Spain upon its arrival in Ecuador is exposed in the caves in front of the mountains.
For their part, the black eagles at the top of the castle are a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, of which the King of Spain was Emperor.
The Christian religion is the final touch of the shield, an element that can be seen in the cross on the castle and the cord next to the curb. The cord is in honor of San Francisco, who gives the official name to the city; San Francisco de Quito.
Actual state
The shield was modernized in 1944, all the original elements were preserved and retouched to make them more visible and pleasing to the eye.
The original shield is not found in Ecuador but in Spain, in the archives of the Indies of Seville.
References
1. Amílcar Tapia Tamayo (January 16, 2016). 475 Years Ago, Quito Received Its Coat Of Arms. Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from El Comercio.
2. Foundation of Quito (sf). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Casa Joaquín.
3. Coat of Arms of Quito (sf). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from In Quito.
4. Christian Andrade (November 9, 2015). Coat of Arms of San Francisco de Quito. Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Sinmiedos.
5. Coat of arms of Quito (November 2, 2015). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Foros Ecuador.