He shield of Quito It is one of the patriotic symbols of the capital of Ecuador. It represents both the city of San Francisco de Quito and the country in general and represents the strength, nobility and geography of the region.
Although it was modified slightly in 1944, the design has remained practically the same since its creation in 1541.
It was granted to Ecuador by King Carlos I of Spain after giving Quito the title that accredited it as a city.
It is the oldest shield among all the cities of Ecuador and was used for the acts of the old Cabildo of the city since it was received from Spain.
History of the coat of arms of Quito
Within the shield can be observed several elements that represent certain characteristics of Quito, as well as several distinctions that the Spanish Crown believed symbolized the qualities of the inhabitants of the place, such as their loyalty.
The royalty of the Spanish Empire ordered the elaboration of a shield, after being granted by the first Royal Certificate the recognition of Quito as a city, being founded on December 6, 1534.
This was presented in the municipality of Talavera de la Reina, in Spain, on March 14, 1541.
From the moment it was made, it became the official symbol of the Cabildo de Quito, being a very appreciated and representative element of Ecuador, but above all of the inhabitants of the capital.
Elements of the Quito shield
When observing the shield it can be seen that it is adorned in its exterior with several additions classic of the time for symbols and coats of arms, such as feathers, flowers, bunches of fruit and a helmet.
Inside the interior coat of arms is a castle surrounded by mountains, which in turn have entrances to caves inside.
On the top of the castle there is a cross and on the sides of this two black eagles that hold the structure.
A cord borders the image on the outside of the crest, between the landscape with the castle and the curb.
Meaning
Part of the Royal Certificate where the shield was described expressed the words" A castle of silver tucked between two hills or rocks " The castle represents a fortress or city properly protected.
The mountains in front of the castle have a double meaning; that of enclosing the city to make it safe (a fortress) and as an example of the classic geography of Quito, which has numerous mountains and hills.
The remarkable mining activity by Spain on its arrival in Ecuador is exposed in the caves in front of the mountains.
For its part, the black eagles on top of the castle are a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, of which the King of Spain was Emperor.
The Christian religion is the final touch of the shield, an element that can be seen in the cross on the castle and the cord next to the curb. The cord is in honor to San Francisco, who gives the official name to the city; San Francisco of Quito.
Actual state
The coat of arms was modernized in 1944, all the original elements were preserved and retouched to make them more visible and pleasing to the eye.
The original shield is not found in Ecuador but in Spain, in the archives of the Indies of Seville.
References
1. Amílcar Tapia Tamayo (January 16, 2016). 475 Years ago, Quito Received Its Coat of Arms. Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from El Comercio.
2. Quito Foundation (s.f.). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Casa Joaquín.
3. Coat of Arms of Quito (s.f.). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from In Quito.
4. Christian Andrade (November 9, 2015). Coat of arms of San Francisco de Quito. Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Sinmiedos.
5. Coat of arms of Quito (November 2, 2015). Retrieved on October 30, 2017, from Foros Ecuador.