Bergen
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Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |
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BERGEN
Province : Hordaland
Additions : 1972 Arna, Fana, Laksevåg, Åsane
Official blazon
Origin/meaning
The arms were granted on August 15, 1924.
The arms are based on the oldest seal of the city, which dates from 1293. The seal is very unique, as it had separate images on both sides. On the one hand stood the image of a city wall with gate rising from seven hills, on the other a Viking longboat. In the mid 14th century a new seal was used, which only showed the gate and hills. Even though the shape and size of the gate has changed considerably during the centuries, the composition itself has not changed.
 The backside of the oldest seal |
The seven hills on the seal symbolise the seven main mountains surrounding the city : Sandviken (417 m), Fløyen (320 m) , Blåmanen(552 m), Ulriken (643 m) , Løvstakken (477 m) , Damsgårsfjellet (317 m) and Lyderhorn (397 m).
 The arms in the Coffee Hag album +/- 1930 |
Literature : Norske Kommunevåpen, Kommunalforlaget, 1987; Ewe, 1972; names of the hills by Holger Schöttke