COAT OF ARMS history
The Coat-of-Arms or Seal, adopted at Independence, replaced the one introduced in April 1903, with the Latin motto:”Clarior e Tenebris”. The seal appears on all official documents generally in black and white or, on more important occasions, in colour.
Components of the Court of Arms
The Livery Coat or Colour on a Shield
The National colours of Red, Gold and Green, which comprise the National Flag, are used on the shield with the same symbolism attached to them.
Charges or Devices on the Shield
The ship Santa Maria at the centre point of the shield and Gold Cross represent Grenada’s sighting by Christopher Columbus, and our continuing link with yachting and tourism.
The Gold Cross itself is significant of God consciousness which underlines the national effort.
The Lion is the first quarter of the shield, and repeated in the fourth, symbolises strength, and the unswerving determination to face the challenges of nationhood with courage and resourcefulness.
The Helm of Special Design
The Helm is a royal helm, a gold helmet facing front and having seven gold bars across the visor, the interior lined purple. A star symbolic of our hopes, aspirations and ideals is placed to the forefront.
The Mantle which covers the Helm
The Wreath to hold the Mantle in Place
The Madonna Lily resting between the horns of the Crescent, (inspired by Murillo’s famous painting of the Immaculate Conception) indicates that Grenada has, since its sighting by Columbus, been dedicated to Mary of the Immaculate Conception and in whose honour the island was named Conception Island; the shield itself rests in a valley between two mountains, representing the spectacularly picturesque topography of the islands
The Crest
The crest is made up of seven roses, representative of the seven parishes and set between the two sprays of bougainvillea, the national flower.
Supporters
The supporters are, on the left, a Tattoo or Armadillo and on the right, the Grenada Dove, representative of the fauna on the islands.
The Motto
Grenada’s motto, “Ever conscious of God, we aspire, build and advance as one people”, is itself sufficiently eloquent on the subject of those high ideals and principles upon which the nation is founded.
The Grand Etang Lake
The Grand Etang Lake is also represented amid luxuriant green vegetation in the foreground of which is placed a sprig of cocoa, with a ripe pod balanced by a sprig of nutmeg also showing the ripe fruit. Growing from the vegetation on the left side of the shield is a stalk of maize flowering and bearing three ears of ripened cobs and on the right a banana tree bearing a full bunch. The fruits all represent Grenada’s traditional link with an agricultural economy; the cradle of their heritage.