Each city has its own symbols, both officially approved and unofficial. Minsk has both.
Heraldry of Minsk region
The Minsk region is located in the central part of the Republic of Belarus, and covers an area of ​​40 thousand square kilometers. This is the only region of the country that does not have access to the state border, but is directly adjacent to all other regions of Belarus. In its center is the capital of the state. But the city of Minsk itself is an independent administrative-territorial unit.
Minsk region is divided into 22 districts. Within it, there are 33 cities and towns (the largest of them are Borisov, Salihorsk, Nesvizh, Zhodino). Most of these settlements have their own emblem.
About a third of the city emblems of the Minsk region are historical. This means that they were approved at a time when specific settlements were part of the Commonwealth or the Russian Empire. We are talking about the arms of cities such as Kletsk, Nesvizh, Kopyl, Slutsk, Cherven and some others.
Many heraldic symbols of the region contain religious semantics. For example, on the city emblems of Borisov, Radoshkovichi, you can see images of the Virgin Mary and St. Peter. Biblical motifs, by the way, are also present on the main flag of the Minsk region.
Local heraldists did not forget about the natural and geographical features of their region. So, on the coat of arms of Logoisk, hills are depicted - the main feature of the so-called “Belarusian Switzerland”. But on the coat of arms of the city of Krupki you can see a twig of the same name grass with golden flowers.
If you carefully analyze the heraldry of the Minsk region, you will notice another interesting feature. Coats of arms of this region, as a rule, are monophonic and are not burdened by a large number of figures, drawings and small details. In other words, they look stylish and concise.
Coat of arms of Minsk: description and interesting points
The coat of arms of the Belarusian capital is simple, colorful, highly artistic and a certain naivety. In the center of the blue baroque shield, the Mother of God is placed in a red and blue robe. She stands on a silver cloud surrounded by two cherubs. Over the head of the Mother of God a pair of angels is floating.
It is easy to guess that the coat of arms of Minsk reflects the fundamental dogma of Catholicism about the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This biblical story was inspired by many famous artists - Rubens, Titian, Lorenzo Lotto and others.
The main symbol of Minsk was officially approved in 2001. Moreover, this procedure was not without fierce debate. The main problem was how exactly the Virgin Mary should be portrayed - according to Orthodox or Catholic canons. Nevertheless, on the final version of the coat of arms, the Virgin’s hands are divorced, which corresponds to the Orthodox tradition.
The modern coat of arms of Minsk adorns city streets, metropolitan souvenirs and government agencies. His image can also be found in printed materials - newspapers and magazines.
Coat of arms of Minsk: history
The main symbol of the Belarusian capital has recently turned 425 years old! The coat of arms of Minsk was approved by King Zhigimont Vaza in 1591. At that time, the city was already quite large and could boast of Magdebourg law.
Why is the Virgin Mary depicted on the coat of arms of Minsk? Many are puzzled by this fact. According to legend, an icon depicting the scene of the Ascension of the Mother of God sailed against the current along the Svisloch in Minsk. Where she stopped, the first church in Belarus was soon erected.
Over the course of several centuries, the coat of arms of the Belarusian capital was adjusted and modified at least ten times. An interesting fact: at the end of the XVIII century the Virgin on the main symbol of the city was dressed in a fashionable dress with crinoline at that time. In Soviet times, strict anti-religious censorship of Minsk, of course, was canceled. It was returned to the city only at the beginning of the new millennium.
Flag of Minsk
The flag of the Belarusian capital is practically no different from the coat of arms. It is a rectangular panel of blue color with standard parameters. In the center of this panel is placed the emblem of the city in an unchanged form. Moreover, the image width is 2/5 of the total length of the flag.
The flag of Minsk was officially approved in March 2001. Today it is used at all city events, ceremonies and celebrations. On the occasion of mourning, the flag at all institutions of the city is half-lowered, and a black tape folded in half is attached to its upper part.
Architectural Symbols of Minsk
In addition to the flag and coat of arms, the capital of Belarus has other symbols (unofficial, tourist and others). For example, architectural.
According to the reviews of tourists, travelers and city guests, in the capital of the republic five most outstanding buildings, structures and objects can be distinguished, which can rightfully be considered its architectural symbols. Here they are:
- Victory Square with a 40-meter obelisk is a symbol of military valor and unity of peoples.
- The government house, built in the 1930s in the constructivist style, is the largest public building in the city.
- The Town Hall (built in 1600 ) is one of the oldest buildings in the Belarusian capital.
- The Church of St. Simeon and Helena (or the so-called “Red Church”) is the most famous Catholic church in Minsk.
- The National Library of Belarus (built in the early 2000s) is the most original construction of the city, made in the form of a 23-story rhombocubooctahedron.
Minsk: in search of a city brand
Many cities in the world today are working hard to create their own brands. Minsk authorities assigned this responsibility to the British company INSTID. She has been searching for the identity of the capital of Belarus since 2012.
The company's experts have already decided on the color of Minsk - this is azure. Against this background, the main emblem of the city was developed, consisting of a network of numerous and thin white stripes. She inspired many associations with the motherboard. Brand developers do not deny this similarity. They say that in this emblem they wanted to reflect the city’s desire for innovation in all areas of life.
INSTID has already come up with a slogan for Minsk. Its English version is Think Minsk, and the Russian version is Minsk. Interesting". In the near future, the company plans to create a corporate flavor of the city, as well as make a list of dishes of the Belarusian capital.