Coat of arms of Italy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coat of arms of Italy
Details
Adopted	05 May 1948

The Coat of Arms of the Italian Republic (Italian, trans. Stemma della Repubblica Italiana), depicted here, has been the symbol of the Italian Republic since 05 May 1948.^[1] Technically it is an emblem rather than a coat of arms, as it was not designed to conform to traditional heraldic rules. The armorial bearings of the House of Savoy, blazoned gules a cross argent, were previously in use by the former Kingdom of Italy; the supporters, on either side a lion rampant Or, substituted by fasci littori (literally bundles of the lictors) during the fascist era.^[2]

[edit] Elements

The emblem comprises a white five-pointed star, with a fine red border, superimposed upon a five-spoked cogwheel, standing between an olive branch on the dexter side and an oak branch on the sinister side; the green branches are in turn bound together by a red ribbon bearing the inscription REPVBBLICA ITALIANA in white capital letters.

Arms of the Kingdom of Italy

Arms as used under Fascism

• The dominant element is a five-pointed star; an ancient secular symbol of Italy, known as Stellone d'Italia, purported to protect the nation and used as the crest of the arms of the Kingdom of Italy from 1870 to 1890.^[3] Iconographic of the Risorgimento, it is usually seen shining radiant over Italia Turrita, the personification of Italy. The star marked the first award of Republican reconstruction, the Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana, and still indicates membership of the Armed Forces today
• The steel cogwheel refers to the Constitution of the Italian Republic:—

“ Italy is a democratic republic, built on labour”

Article 1

Its shape also recalls a mural crown, as worn by Italia Turrita (meaning with towers), typical of Italian civic heraldry of communal origin

• The olive branch represents the Republic’s desire for peace, both harmony at home and brotherhood abroad, as expressed in the Constitution:—

“ Italy repudiates war as an instrument of aggression [...]”

Article 11

• The oak branch is symbolic of the strength and dignity of the Italian people. Both oak and olive trees are also characteristic of the Italian landscape

[edit] History

Arms of the Italian Social Republic

The decision to provide the new Italian Republic with an emblem was taken by the government of Alcide De Gasperi in October 1946. The design was chosen by public competition, with the requirement that party political emblems were forbidden and the inclusion of the Stellone d'Italia, "inspired by a sense of the earth and municipalities." The five winners were assigned further requirements for the design of the emblem, "a ring that has towered shaped crown," surrounded by a garland of Italian foliage and flora. Below a representation of the sea, and above, the gold star, with the legend Unità e Libertà or Unity and Liberty in the Italian language. The winner was Paolo Paschetto, Professor of the Institute of Fine Arts in Rome from 1914 to 1948, and the design was presented in February 1947, together with the other finalists, in an exhibition in Via Margutta. This version, however, did not meet with public approval, so a new competition was held, again won by Paolo Paschetto. The new emblem was approved by the Constituent Assembly in February 1948, and officially adopted by the President of the Italian Republic, Enrico De Nicola in May 1948.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Coats of arms of Italy

• Flag of Italy
• Il Canto degli Italiani
• Italia Turrita
• FERT

[edit] External links

• Un simbolo per la Repubblica Presidenza della Repubblica, Palazzo del Quirinale (Italian)
• Italian Civic Heraldry International Civic Heraldry, Ralf Hartemink (English)