Mogilev is one of the oldest cities in the Republic of Belarus. Having taken its origin from the previously built castle of Leo the Mighty, the prince of those lands, it is located on the banks of the Dnieper. It stands on three support hills, which are still called as old: Gvozdovka, Mashekovka and Grave. Over the history of its existence, the coat of arms of Mogilev changed three times. Consider it, as well as the symbols of today's city and their meaning.
1577 year
This year, on January 28, the city of Mogilev, Belarus received its first coat of arms. Although the town itself dates back to 1267, the Lithuanian prince S. Bathory officially granted his city self-government.
Depicted on a blue background was a white tower with closed gates, standing on the green grass. They put a seal with this image on all outgoing documents, and until the 1630s. and on products manufactured in the city. The presence of such a seal on any product is a sign of the highest quality. And merchants from Mogilev became known both in European countries and in Moscow. The city was rich and prosperous, which means that there were those who wanted to conquer it.
1661 year
It was on the first of February of this year that Mogilev rebelled against the Tsar of Russia, at that time Aleksey Mikhailovich ruled, and people drove the invaders from their lands. In early June, the mayor was granted the last king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by Jan II Casimir, where the new coat of arms of Mogilev was described.
On the azure shield of the baroque type of the tower there are silver (three pieces), the gates at the central tower are not closed, there is a knight in full ammunition (probably this is Levanovich himself, who called the city to revolt), armed with a sword. And above the gate there is an image of the recognized heraldic symbol of the ON “Chase”.
Citizens proudly stood up to defend their city under this symbol. It is this variant of the coat of arms that will later become the modern symbol of the city, but before that, the lands of Belarus will be changed many times by their rulers, the rivers and lakes will be fed with blood more than once, many sons will fall for their Motherland.
1781 year
The Commonwealth collapsed, and most of its lands in Russia, including Mogilev and its environs, departed. September 16, 1781 by decree of the Senate again changed the coat of arms of Mogilev. To show the belonging of Russia, they replaced a knight with a sword (it’s understandable, the memory of the uprising is still fresh) with an imperial double-headed eagle, which was placed on top on a yellow background, and a rider armed with a scarlet on the background was left below - a symbol of the former coat of arms of the Grand Pursuit.
Modern symbolism
Belarus becomes a republic of the USSR, but it does not forget its past. Indeed, now the city of Mogilev is Belarus.
The inhabitants remember their history, are proud of it, and the Mogilev administration decides to make the emblem of 1661 a symbol. And 03.01.2005, by decree number one of the President of the Republic of Belarus A. Lukashenko, the symbolism of the city is approved as follows:
The coat of arms of Mogilev today can be described as follows: on the baroque shield painted in the color of the sky, the greenery is spread out below, there are three towers built of cobblestone and painted in silver on it. At the central - the gates are not closed, and in front of them is a silver-clad knight in armor and holding a naked sword over himself. Above his head is his shield, painted in scarlet blood, of a round shape, with the image of a horseman, equipped with a sword and a shield.
The flag of Mogilev is a rectangular snow-white cloth with an aspect ratio of one to two, and the emblem is placed in the center.
The color azure always meant that the owner's thoughts and feelings are elevated. In heraldry, this is a very traditional color. Bottom green means faith in the best, hope for increased prosperity.
3 towers symbolize the three divine forms and signify exaltation. There is another interpretation of the three towers, the three hills on which the city is built are so symbolically depicted. The wide open gate is a symbol that anyone can enter Paradise, and Mogilev never closed the gate to good guests.
The knight standing in front of the gate is interpreted as follows: the guests here will only be welcome, but the enemies will be repulsed. The history of the city has repeatedly confirmed this. Countless times, the inhabitants of Mogilev heroically defended him from attacks. A sword above your head will always remind you of the tragedies experienced.
"Chase" (which is exactly what an armed rider is called) is the official emblem of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. And Mogilev was part of this principality, had the same rights as the capital, and was the eastern gate.
The scarlet color on which the Chase is placed is a symbol of nobility. Silver color is a symbol of purity, morality and decency. The coat of arms and flag are a reflection of the history of the city, its traditions and moral principles of the inhabitants of Mogilev. It is not in vain that this particular emblem was chosen as a symbol.