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Coat of arms of Warsaw
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Coat of Arms of Warsaw consists of a syrenka ("little mermaid") in a red field. Polish syrenka is often rendered siren, but she is more properly a fresh-water mermaid called “Melusina.”
The first coat of arms of Warsaw depicted a dragon with human male's head, carrying a sword and a shield. The first known usage was on a seal from 1390. Gradually the male head and body was replaced with that of a female, and by the end of 16th century the tail was also changed from that of a dragon to that of a fish. The only remaining part of the original coat of arms are the sword and shield.
Since 1622, the Warsaw arms has been rendered as a mermaid with sword and shield in hand, representing Melusina from the River Vistula (Wisła), who in legend led Duke Boleslaus of Mazovia to the appropriate site (a fishing village) and ordered him to found the city, in about 1294. The city’s motto is, appropriately, Contemnit procellas (“It defies the storms”).
The current official design of the symbol was introduced in 1938 but it was only used in this form until the beginning of World War II. After 1945, Communist authorities changed the emblem by removing the crown. The insignia was restored to the pre-war form on August 15, 1990. The magistrate is currently considering to add a depiction of the Virtuti Militari medal to the emblem to emphasize the merits of Warsaw during both the Battle of Warsaw and World War II. It is also planned to add the city's second motto to the emblem - Semper invicta (Always invincible).
 Syrenka statue on the river bank |
 Syrenka statue on Old Town Market square in Warsaw |