The flags of Armenia

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Coat of arms of Armenia

The national coat of arms of Armenia

Historic Armenian Coats of Arms

The flag of Armenia

The national coat of arms of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի զինանշանը, Hayastani zinanshan) consists of an eagle and a lion supporting a shield. The coat of arms combines new and old symbols. The eagle and lion are ancient Armenian symbols dating from the first Armenian kingdoms that existed prior to Christ. These symbols are found on the Armenian Highland from times immemorial. Numerous Armenian dynasties such as Artaxiad, Arsacid, Bagratuni and Rubenid, used these symbols as their royal insignia.

The eagle supports the shield on the left side of the coat of arms, while the lion on the right side. The eagle was the symbol of the Artaxiad Dynasty and later on the symbol of the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia. It holds the Artaxiad Dynasty’s branch of the shield. Whereas, the lion was the symbol of the Bagratuni Dynasty and later on the symbol of the Rubenid Dynasty. It holds the Rubenid Dynasty’s branch of the shield. The eagle and the lion are a common theme for civilizations on the Armenian Highland. As such they have been represented throughout various Armenian dynasties.

The current coat of arms was adopted on April 19, 1992, by the Armenian Supreme Council decision. On June 15, 2006, the law on the state coat of arms of Armenia was passed by the Armenian Parliament.

Royal seal of Šauštatar of Mitanni

This is a more elaborate and detailed relief from the Armenian Kingdom of Mitanni, where you can see on the top of the picture, the tradition of eagles and lions around an 8-pointed star, enclosed in a circle of the sun. Pair of lions and eagles were repeated Mount Nemrut 2,000 years after and in the emblem of the first Republic of Armenia in 1918.

Mt. Nemrut

King Of Armenian Kingdom Of Sophene. Arsames II. Circa 230 BC

Coin of Tigranes the Great, 95-55 BC.

Draped bust of Tigranes V (6 AD. -12 AD.) facing right with long pointed beard and wearing tiara

The flag of the Artaxiad Dynasty (189 BCE – 12 CE)

The flag of the The Artaxiad Dynasty

The Flag of the House of Mamikonian 500-800 CE

Early flag of the Bagratid Dynasty

The flag of the Bagratid Dynasty [Capital Ani] 900-1100 CE

The flag of one of the branches of the Bagratid Dynasty

Bagratuni flag symbols on Noravank and Geghard monasteries

Eagle from Zvartnots Cathedral

Lion on the gates of Ani

In August 2011, well known Javakhk Armenian climber, Sergei Kaifadjyan and his six-year old son Amatuni Kaifadjyan climbed Mount Ararat. They raised raised the Javahk flag, Armenian flag, Artsakh flag and the Armenian Apostolic church flag. Amatuni is the youngest climber ever to reach the Holy mountaintop.