The national coat of arms of Armenia combines long‑standing Armenian motifs into a formal state emblem: an eagle and a lion hold a central shield that bears the image of Mount Ararat and related heraldic devices. The present composition was adopted by the Supreme Council of Armenia on 19 April 1992 and its legal description was enacted by parliament on 15 June 2006.
Design and principal elements
At the center of the emblem is a shield whose main element is Mount Ararat, a mountain long regarded as a national symbol in Armenian culture and tradition. Tradition also associates Ararat with the story of Noah’s Ark, and the ark is often represented in compositions that emphasize historical and spiritual continuity. Flanking the shield are an eagle and a lion, ancient symbols of power, nobility and courage in Armenian art and royal iconography; these supporters are frequently noted in descriptions and reproductions of the arms (eagle and lion).
Symbolism and historical background
The components draw on premodern Armenian heraldry, royal insignia and religious associations. The eagle and the lion appear in reliefs, seals and coins from early Armenian kingdoms and became standardized as supporters in modern times to express continuity with that past. Mount Ararat is both a geographic landmark and a cultural emblem, closely tied to Armenian identity inside the country and in the diaspora.
Uses and official status
The coat of arms functions as the principal state symbol of the Republic of Armenia. It appears on official seals, government buildings, passports and some state documents. Its form and colors are defined by law and governmental regulations; unauthorized or disrespectful usage is typically restricted by legal provisions governing state symbols.
Notable distinctions and context
The current emblem replaced Soviet‑era imagery following independence in 1991 and reflects a deliberate return to historic motifs rather than the Soviet visual vocabulary. While variants and stylized versions exist for particular institutions (for example, presidential insignia or municipal emblems), the national coat of arms is the formally prescribed device representing the state as a whole.
Quick reference
- Adopted: 19 April 1992; legal specification enacted 15 June 2006.
- Principal motifs: Mount Ararat (and Ark motif), shield, eagle and lion supporters.
- Common uses: governmental insignia, official documents, seals and public buildings.