The
Coat of Arms of Armenia consists of an eagle and a lion
supporting a shield. The coat of arms combines new and old
symbols. The eagle and lion are ancient Armenian symbols
dating from the first Armenian kingdoms that existed prior
to Christ.
The
shield itself consists of many components. In the center
is a depiction of Mount Ararat, where Noah's ark supposedly
came to rest after the great flood. Surrounding Mount Ararat
are symbols of old Armenian dynasties. In the lower left
is the emblem of the Artaxiad Dynasty that ruled in the
1st century BC. In the upper left is the emblem for the
Bagratid dynasty that ruled during the Middle Ages, between
7th and 11th centuries. That dynasty was destroyed by the
Byzantine Empire's encroachment and by Seljuk invasions
in the 11th century AD. In the upper right is the emblem
of the first dynasty to reign over a Christian Armenia,
the Arsacids. This dynasty ruled from the 1st century AD
to 428 AD. In the lower right is the emblem of the Rubenid
dynasty. This dynasty reigned in Lesser Armenia (also known
as Cilicia), a nation that expanded and prospered during
the 12th and 13th centuries, although the Mamelukes and
Turks would eventually destroy it.
Subsequently,
foreign powers ruled Armenia until 1918, after which the
nation enjoyed a brief period of independence. This coat
of arms originates from that period, and the sword at the
bottom symbolizes the end of outside rule and a desire to
defend Armenia.
