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Herbarz Miast Polskich
Polish Civic Heraldry

WARSZAWA


Origin/meaning:
The oldest recorded form of Warsaw's Coat of Arms dates from 1390 AD. At the time, Warsaw was known as Warszowa and was the second most important city in Mazovia, a region north of the Polish Kingdom.
The mermaid on coat of arms was originally male in form, with two fins as legs. Its head was covered by a golden helmet. After the Polish King moved his capital to Warsaw, the mermaid on the coat of arms was altered. It was given feminine features (this was porbably because of the fictional story behind Warsaw's founding by a fisherman who caught a mermaid) and it's helmet was replaced by a golden shield and curved sword.

Literature : Image obtained from Laszlo Szirtes, Hungary; background from Michal Matyjewicz, Poland


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Disclaimer last changed on April 29, 2008 (addition Wikipedia templates), previous change January 2007 (addition Wikipedia text), previous change 2001.