Lábaro
Encyclopedia
The Lábaro is a modern interpretation of an ancient military standard (called Cantabrum) of the Cantabri
people from pre-Roman Iberum. It consists of a purple cloth on which there is what would be called in heraldry a "saltire
voided " made up of curved lines, with knobs at the end of each line.
Additionally, and according to the definition of the Royal Academy of the Spanish language, Lábaro is the roman standard (as in military ceremonial flag) on which, under Emperor Constantin's rule, the cross and the Monogram
of Christ (XP: Chi-Rho) was drawn. By association of ideas, Lábaro can refer just to the monogram
itself, or even just the cross.
Etymologically
, the word comes from (p)lab- which means to speak in a number of Celtic languages
, many of which have derivatives. For example, in Welsh
llafar means "speech", "language", "voice". Ancient Cornish
and Breton
have lavar, "word", and ancient Irish
has labrad: "language", "speech".
Today, certain social and political groups in modern Spanish autonomous community of Cantabria advocate the use of this ancient standard instead of the current flag
.
Cantabri
The Cantabri were a pre-Roman Celtic people which lived in the northern Atlantic coastal region of ancient Hispania, from the 4th to late 1st centuries BC.-Origins:...
people from pre-Roman Iberum. It consists of a purple cloth on which there is what would be called in heraldry a "saltire
Saltire
A saltire, or Saint Andrew's Cross, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter ex . Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on such a cross....
voided " made up of curved lines, with knobs at the end of each line.
Additionally, and according to the definition of the Royal Academy of the Spanish language, Lábaro is the roman standard (as in military ceremonial flag) on which, under Emperor Constantin's rule, the cross and the Monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
of Christ (XP: Chi-Rho) was drawn. By association of ideas, Lábaro can refer just to the monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
itself, or even just the cross.
Etymologically
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
, the word comes from (p)lab- which means to speak in a number of Celtic languages
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
, many of which have derivatives. For example, in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
llafar means "speech", "language", "voice". Ancient Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
and Breton
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
have lavar, "word", and ancient Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
has labrad: "language", "speech".
Flag of Cantabria
The colors of the official flag of Cantabria , which is the symbol of the region, are established in the very text of the Autonomy Statute. Only the characteristics of the coat of arms that was to feature in the regional flag were left to specify, which was carried out by a Law of the Regional...
.
See also
- LauburuLauburuThe lauburu or Basque cross has four comma-shaped heads similar to the Japanese tomoe. It can be constructed with a compass and straightedge, beginning with the formation of a square template; each head can be drawn from a neighboring vertex of this template with two compass settings, with one...
- FascesFascesFasces are a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which is an image that traditionally symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
- LabrysLabrysLabrys is the term for a symmetrical doubleheaded axe originally from Crete in Greece, one of the oldest symbols of Greek civilization; to the Romans, it was known as a bipennis....
- Christian symbolismChristian symbolismChristian symbolism invests objects or actions with an inner meaning expressing Christian ideas. Christianity has borrowed from the common stock of significant symbols known to most periods and to all regions of the world. Religious symbolism is effective when it appeals to both the intellect and...
- ChristogramChristogramA Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol. Different types of Christograms are associated with the various traditions of Christianity, e.g...
- LabarumLabarumThe labarum was a vexillum that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" — Chi and Rho . It was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I...