Two republics, North Ossetia and South Ossetia, historically countries of one people. The division between them is not a border, but a mountain pass. In practice, this is a single people, they have chosen the same symbols of their republics. The flag of Ossetia is a tricolor that combines the colors: white, red, yellow.
North Ossetia - Alania
The territory of the North Caucasus has been inhabited by Alans since the first century AD. In the tenth century, it was already a Christian country that had trade relations with Kievan Rus, Georgia, and Byzantium. In subsequent centuries, the republic was subjected to aggression from neighboring countries and peoples, including the Mongol-Tatars. In 1774, Ossetia joined Russia, and since 1861 it has been part of the Terek region.
The Republic of Ossetia-Alania was defined in 1924 as an autonomous region and became part of the RSFSR. It was called the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Since 1991, it has been a republic (with the capital - the city of Vladikavkaz), which has the flag of Ossetia and the coat of arms. The new name is the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The territory it occupies is 8000 square km, and the population– 709900 people.
Symbols of statehood
Like all countries of the world, it has the signs of statehood - the coat of arms and the flag of North Ossetia. The view of the latter was adopted by the modern Republican Parliament in 1994. This is a rectangular panel, which consists of stripes arranged horizontally. Their sequence is as follows: the top color is white, the middle one is red, the bottom one is yellow.
The colors that make up the flag of Ossetia have certain meanings. White is the color that symbolizes the moral purity of the people. Red is a symbol of military prowess, and yellow is a sign of abundance and grace. All these meanings and symbols reflect the ancient culture of the people, which belongs to the social structure of the Scythian and Alanian society.
Coat of arms and flag of Ossetia
Like the flag, the coat of arms of the republic was adopted by Parliament in 1994. The author of the drawing is Murat Dzhigkaev. The type of coat of arms was taken from a drawing of a historical banner. This drawing, authored by Vakhushti Bagrationi, is marked with the date 1735 (a red banner depicting a Caucasian leopard or leopard against the backdrop of blue mountains). Some people think that the figure is a snow leopard, but this is a misconception. Irbis has never been found in the Caucasus. The Persian leopard has always lived here, which looks like a snow leopard. It all depends on its color. The coat of arms and the flag of South Ossetia look the same and the meaning of the signs is the same.
Today the state emblem of Alanya is a round shield on a red field. A golden leopard with black spots on its back is walking along the golden land. In the backgroundsee the seven silver mountains.
As a fraternal and united people, since 1998, the neighboring country has been accepting new heraldic signs. And now the flag of South Ossetia is identical to the flag of North.
Meaning of heraldic symbols
Why is the leopard depicted? A leopard with mountains in the background is a historical image. It has always been considered the emblem of the Ossetian state. The red field on the shield is strength and courage. The round shape of the shield is traditional for the people and the country. Leopard means firm state power. Its golden color is greatness, respect. Mountains - this is the main World mountain and six peaks. This is how the ancient model of the world was seen, which is represented by the ancestors of the Ossetian people. The coat of arms and the flag of Ossetia are important for the peoples of the two republics.
One of the peaks - the highest - means the supreme power of the republic, or the divine absolute of the ancient peoples. The three peaks below are the people, the world of people. The next three peaks, one level below, mean the limits of the country or cardinal points. All of them sparkle with silver - this color symbolizes wisdom and purity, the joy of being.
The coat of arms and the flag of North Ossetia have become symbols for the fraternal people of South Ossetia.
