Belarus - National Symbols

Last modified: 2003-01-18 by dov gutterman
Keywords: belarus | pahonia |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

by Zeljko Heimer and Anto'nio Martins, 9 November 2002

• Historical Background
• Official National Emblem
• Pahonia

See also:

• Belarus

Other Sites:

• Belarus Heraldry Site
• Legislation of 1991-1995 Arms (in Byelorussian)
• Legislation of the Current Arms (in Byelorussian)
• Geraldika.ru

Historical Background

Byelorussia was before 1917 a cultural and territorial expression with no governmental character although it was(with Great Russia and Little Russia--aka Ukraine) one of "all the Russias". As such it would not have an officail flag. It was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania seized in the partitions of Poland. As such many of the old Lithuanian symbols were popularly used, eapecially the Pogon (Knight on horseback with a shield of blue with a yellow cross) which has after 1918 been used both by Lithuanian and Belarussian nationalists and the Trident which has been used in various forms by the Lithuanians and Ukrainians
Norman Martin , 30 September 1999

Belarus had it's soviet emblem, later (after independence) the horseman arms (Pahonia) for four years and then the current arms.
Anto'nio Martins, 9 November 2002

Official National Emblem

It is a rather socialist type of arms: a globe rising infront of rising many rayed sun, on the