Coat of arms of Iceland

The Islands coat of arms was introduced in 1944.

History

Coat of arms under Danish rule from about the 16th century to 1903

Coat of arms during the autonomy ( Home Rule )

Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Iceland 1918-1944

Coat of arms of King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland 1918-1944 1903 until 1947. Iceland is represented by the silver hawks in the bottom left corner. The falcon was removed from the Danish coat of arms in 1948.

A first coat of arms of Iceland is known from the " Norwegian time."

It consisted of 12 horizontal stripes in blue and white. Later a red heraldic shield with a silver cod was used under a crown.

Today's state arms exists since the 17th June 1944 the day of the founding of the Republic of Iceland. This day is also a national holiday.

Description

It shows a coat of arms with the Icelandic flag, which stands on a rocky pedestal plate as. This is a reference to the rocky coast of Iceland. It is a white margined red cross in blue.

In addition, as are plate holder a right reinforced gold bull and a giant in the silver coat leaning with gold lining and gold - black belt on a staff. About the blazon a langued and gold reinforced Dragon and right a silver gold reinforced langued eagle are arranged as the legendary protector of Iceland, as in the Heimskringla saga described on the left. This legend, Harald Bluetooth to conquer in the 10th century Iceland. But four powerful guardian spirits - a giant with an iron bar in the south, a bull in the west, an eagle in the north, a dragon in the east - to put in his way and prevented him from landing with its warships. In heraldry all four painted figures are referred to as land guards.