Coat of arms of Benin
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Benin
, originally introduced in 1964, was readopted in 1990 after being replaced in 1975.
At the top of the emblem is the national crest that consists of two horns with corn
in the ear and filled with sand. These are reputed to stand for prosperity. Below the crest is a shield that contains the actual coat of arms of Benin.
The shield is broken into four quadrants. The top left quadrant contains a castle in the style of the Somba
, representative of the history of Benin. In the top right quadrant, is the Star of Benin, the highest award of the nation. Below this is a ship, that stands for the arrival of European
s in Benin. In the lower left quadrant is a palm tree.
The shield is supported by a pair of leopards
, the national animal of Benin. Below the shield is the motto
of Benin (Fellowship, Justice, Work) in French
.
In 1975, the People's Republic of Benin
(as the country was then known
- see history of Benin
for more details) adopted a new coat of arms which reflected the country's adherence to Marxism-Leninism
. The symbolism of the flag was as follows:
The coat of arms also featured the initials of the country: RPB .
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
, originally introduced in 1964, was readopted in 1990 after being replaced in 1975.
At the top of the emblem is the national crest that consists of two horns with corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
in the ear and filled with sand. These are reputed to stand for prosperity. Below the crest is a shield that contains the actual coat of arms of Benin.
The shield is broken into four quadrants. The top left quadrant contains a castle in the style of the Somba
Somba
Somba may refer to:*Somba people - an ethnic group of northern Benin, Africa.*Southern Oregon Mountain Bike Association -*South of Market Business Association*SOMBA, a brazilian Jamband from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.*Soma Bay, Egypt...
, representative of the history of Benin. In the top right quadrant, is the Star of Benin, the highest award of the nation. Below this is a ship, that stands for the arrival of European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s in Benin. In the lower left quadrant is a palm tree.
The shield is supported by a pair of leopards
Leopard (heraldry)
The leopard or lion passant guardant is a frequently used charge in heraldry. It mostly appears in groups of three, which are positioned over each another.-Heraldic and zoological leopards:...
, the national animal of Benin. Below the shield is the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of Benin (Fellowship, Justice, Work) in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Former coat of arms
People's Republic of Benin
The People's Republic of Benin was a socialist state located in the Gulf of Guinea on the African continent, which would become present-day Benin. The People's Republic was established on November 30, 1975, shortly after the 1972 coup d'état in the Republic of Dahomey...
(as the country was then known
Geographical renaming
Geographical renaming is the changing of the name of a geographical feature or area. This can range from the uncontroversial change of a street name to a highly disputed change to the name of a country. Some names are changed locally but the new names are not recognised by other countries,...
- see history of Benin
History of Benin
The Republic of Benin was the seat of Dahomey, one of the great medieval African kingdoms, governed from the capital, Abomey, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-Colonial Benin :...
for more details) adopted a new coat of arms which reflected the country's adherence to Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
. The symbolism of the flag was as follows:
- Green symbolized the natureNatureNature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
of the country - The red starRed starA red star, five-pointed and filled, is an important ideological and religious symbol which has been used for various purposes, such as: state emblems, flags, monuments, ornaments, and logos.- Symbol of communism :...
symbolized socialismSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,... - The corn cobs represented agriculture and farmers
- The cog-wheel represented industry and the working class
The coat of arms also featured the initials of the country: RPB .