Each major settlement in our country has its own official symbols. When and under what circumstances did the coat of arms of Kursk appear? We will try to find the right answer to this question and explain its meaning in accordance with the heraldic rules and canons.
Historical background
According to historical documents, the coat of arms of Kursk was approved by Catherine II in 1780. Curiously, this symbol is present in the same form in the Znamenny Armorial of 1729. When did the coat of arms of Kursk actually appear? During archaeological excavations in Pskov, a casting made of copper was discovered. On one of its sides, you can see the recognizable image of the coat of arms of Kursk. On the other, there is an inscription "City of Kursk, 1700". Accordingly, we can conclude that this symbol has existed for at least three centuries.
Description of the coat of arms and flag of Kursk
What does the coat of arms of Kursk look like? This is a French rectangular shield with a sharp base. The main field of gray (silver) color is crossed obliquely by a blue stripe, on whichthree flying partridges of white color are depicted. The birds got on the state symbol of the city not by chance. Once in the Kursk region, there were indeed many partridges. According to some historians, a large population of these birds gave the city its name, but this theory has not been confirmed.
From the point of view of heraldry, the chosen color scheme is of great importance for any sign. The silver color in the Kursk coat of arms denotes the kindness and purity of thoughts of the townspeople. Blue color symbolizes softness, greatness and truth. In its full version, the symbol of Kursk is framed by golden oak leaves entwined with a blue ribbon. From above the shield is crowned with a crown, connected with oak garlands with red ribbons. Many other coats of arms of Russian cities are decorated in a similar way.
Kursk is proud of its own flag. This is a rectangular, horizontally located panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3. Equal-sized red stripes are located at the top and bottom of the flag. In the central part there are three narrower stripes of silver, yellow and black. The red stripes symbolize the continuity of times. Silver indicates the spirituality of the population, yellow - about developed agriculture, and black - about the fertility of local lands. In the central part of the flag we see the coat of arms of the city framed with oak leaves and topped with a crown.
Coat of arms of Kursk in the USSR
With the advent of Soviet power, many geographical names and official symbols of settlements were changed. What is curious: the Kursk coat of arms was not subjected to significant changes. Except partridges on the shielda bearing, half of a gear and a bobbin of thread appeared, which symbolize the industry of the region, which is developing at an accelerated pace. The name of the city was placed at the top of the shield.
In this form, the coat of arms of Kursk existed until 1992, after which the historical version of the main city symbol was officially approved.
Interesting facts about the symbols of the Kursk region
According to some unofficial sources, during the Soviet era, not all officials were satisfied with the appearance of the Kursk coat of arms. One of the artists working on its adjustment came up with an ingenious explanation. He suggested that the image of white birds be considered a symbol of the unity of the three main leaders of the communist movement. This is how partridges turned into comrades of Marx, Lenin and Stalin. Today, the coat of arms of Kursk, the description of which you can find in our article, is again a symbol of its region and people, and not a political idea. The historical sign reflects the history and features of this area.
