The coat of arms of Santa Marta is a heraldic symbol that describes the Colombian city of Santa Marta, recognized as the third important urban center in the region after Barranquilla and Cartagena.
It is the oldest city that exists in your country and is the capital of the Magdalena department. The city suffered a series of catastrophes after fires, internal wars and earthquakes, thus losing track of the first shield of the state.
On December 22, 1774, the Council of the Indies reported that the King of Spain authorized the representative image of the city to bear the immaculate conception, since Santa Marta lacked a shield.
However, the ancient inhabitants of the city preserved in their memories the design of the first shield passing this graphic description from generation to generation.
The historian Ernesto Restrepo, in charge of searching for lost traces of the shield, wrote a letter in 1924 expressing a brief description:
In May 1929 the Mayor's Office considered the design of the oldest shield as the image that the city would present.
In 1951 the new municipal government rebuilt the shield including the image of the Virgin, this being the symbol that is displayed today.
Description and meaning
The shield of Santa Marta is divided into three planes that have historical elements that represent the city and the beliefs of its inhabitants.
Foreground
The foreground has a background in shades of blue, white and bright flashes representing the sky and symbolizing the nobility, obedience, loyalty, respect and obligation of its inhabitants.
On the background is the image of the Virgin Immaculate Conception that represents the defender of the city, fidelity, faith, love, peace, order, respect for religion, the king and the laws.
Background
The background has a sky blue background, a brown tower with an old brick architecture, with stripes of a rising sun that represents generosity, courage, emergence, altitude, greatness, the beginning of a prosperous and developed nation.
The Sun that is behind the tower represents the emergence of the people, hope, wealth and royalty faithful to religions and their cultures, constancy, splendor, power and light.
Third plane
The third plane has as a background a sea with waves that represent the beautiful calm waters of the Caribbean Sea, intelligence, wisdom, water as a source of sustenance to survive, the life and purity of its inhabitants.
On the sea there is a boat with four oars that represents hope, constancy, security, balance, dominance, stability, tranquility and indicates the open path to the future of the city.
References
- (nd). "Habitat and Culture: Symbols of the city of Santa Marta." Investigationshabitatycultura.blogspot.com It was consulted on September 24… 2017.
- (nd). «Emblems of Santa Marta Colombia - Flag, Shield.» santamartacolombia.com.com It was consulted on September 24… 2017.
- (nd). "Symbols - Mayor's Office of Santa Marta." santamarta.gov.co It was consulted on September 24, 2017.
- (nd). «Study in Santa Marta - Espa Santa Marta.» espasantamarta.gov.co It was consulted on September 24… 2017
- (nd). "History of Santa Marta - Ultimate Colombia." ultimatecolombia.com It was consulted on September 24… 2017.
- (nd). "Emblems of Santa Marta ~ VOCES DE LA BAHIA." Voicesdelabahia.blogspot.com It was consulted on September 24… 2017.
- (nd). "Samaria Bitácora: History of the Shield and Anthem of Santa Marta." bitacorasamaria.blogspot.com It was consulted on September 24… 2017.