National Arms of Ethiopia

NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS OF ETHIOPIA

Official blazon

Azure, a pentagram with five rays of light or.

Origin/meaning

The current national emblem was adopted in 1996.

The pentagram has had different official meanings. At present the pentagram stands for the unity of the people and nationality of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In a wider sense represents the shared desire of the state, the people and the religion of Ethiopia to make a united nation.

I have no idea why the pentagram was chosen as a symbol.

Historical arms

1885-1974

The historical symbol for the rulers and the state of Ethiopia was a lion passant since the rule of Emperor Theodore II (1855-1868). The lion was seen as the lion of Juda and represented the Christian belief of the Emperors. During the reigns of different Emperors, the lion has been facing either left or right and by Menelik II (1889-1913) the lion was given a processional cross in his paw, in a later version augmented with a streamer. The lion remained the official symbol for the state until the end of the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974.

Seal from Theodore II
Coin from 1889
Coin from 1917
Coin from 1921
Coin from 1972

Coin from 1889970

Literature : -

This page is part of the Ethiopia heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry: National Arms of Ethiopia Heraldic literature of Ethiopia Total pages in the Ethiopia section : 27 of which images : 30	Other heraldry: Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Personal arms