The shield of the Province of San Luis (Argentina), like the National Shield, is formed by an oval as the main body, which is divided horizontally into two parts of equal proportions.
At the top appears the figure of four brown mountains, over which a gold-colored rising sun rises, with a blue sky in the background. The lower part or half has the figure of two deer facing each other and standing on a light green plain.
Framing the oval of the shield externally, there are two laurel branches with red fruits, separated at the top. These intersect at the bottom and, just at that point, they wear a bow or ribbon with the colors sky blue and white, following the pattern of the national flag of Argentina.
History
In the same way as in other provinces, San Luis initially uses the Spanish Royal Shield. It was in 1836 when the seal of the Sovereign General Constituent Assembly began to be used alternatively as a shield.
At the end of the year 1836, the governor at that time, named José Gregorio Calderón, ordered the elaboration of a seal that served to validate government documents, giving rise to what is probably considered the first shield of the Province of San Luis.
Between the years 1862 and 1865 a new design of the shield appears, the same used in the seals to authenticate official documents.
This shield changes its traditionally oval shape for a completely round one, and uses for the first time the elements that show the current shield.
As happened in other provinces, the variety of types of shield used and which showed obvious differences between them, forced legislators to draft a law in 1936, called Law 1640.
This law definitively established what elements the shield should incorporate and what should be its location in it; however, said law did not contemplate the colors of the shield. This was corrected in 1978 with Decree No. 800.
Meaning
The shield of San Luis has four main elements. Its characteristics are described below:
Four mountains
In the San Luis coat of arms, the four mountains refer to the mountain ranges that surround the landscape of the province, as well as the mining wealth found there.
Facing deer
The deer facing each other symbolize the encounter between the inhabitants of the province, as well as the fauna of the region.
They also refer to the old name that the city received and that was Punta de Venados.
Sun
The rising sun is taken from the existing one on the National Shield, which is known to be the emblem of the Incas.
It symbolizes independence, the indigenous roots of its population and the American identity.
Laurel
The laurel branches represent the victory and the achievement of independence from Spain, while the ribbon with the tie that ties them signifies the belonging of the province to the Argentine Nation and the unity of its people.
References
- Caminosanluis.com.ar. (December 31, 2012). Camino San Luis website, "The shield of San Luis is a symbol of unity." Recovered from caminoanluis.com.ar
- Van Meegrot, W. (undated). Web page "Heraldry Argentina". Recovered from heraldicaargentina.com.ar
- Intertournet.com.ar. (No date). Web page article "Escudo de San Luis". Recovered from intertournet.com.ar
- Portaleducativo.ulp.edu.ar. (No date). Website article "Provincial Shield". Recovered from portaleducativo.ulp.edu.ar
- Roblespepe. (Pseudonym). (April 18, 2009). "Shield of the Province of San Luis". Recovered from es.wikipedia.org