Arles
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Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of France - Armorial de France |
ARLES
Département : Bouches-du-Rhône
Origin/meaning
The arms show a lion holding a Roman banner with the letters CIV. AREL. and the letters IX on top. This refers to the Roman name of the city CIVitas ARELatensis as the city was an important city in Roman Gallia. The letters IX stand for Jesus Christus and indicate that Arles was a center of early Christianity.
The lion most probably is the lion of St, Marc, taken from the arms of Venice as in the 13th century the city asked Venice for help and support.
The city uses the motto 'Ab ira leonis' with the arms.
The arms in the Café Sanka album +/- 1932 |
The arms on a tobacco card by Laurens |
Literature : J.J. Armorial Général des communes de France, Paris, 1995.