Adopted 1992 | Use Iraqi Kurdistan | |
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The coat of arms of the Kurdistan Regional Government, which governs Iraqi Kurdistan, is an eagle holding a sun on his wings. The sun is formed of the three colors of red, yellow and green, which represent the Kurdish flag. In the later version of the arms, the words "Kurdistan Regional Government" are written on it in the Kurdish, Arabic and English languages (top to bottom).
Background
The coat of arms of the Kurdistan regional government draws on both modern and ancient symbolism: the eagle itself was the emblem of the ancient Median Empire, whereas the sun has been in use as a symbolic representation of northern Mesopotamia (Kurdistan) in numerous ancient motiffs dating from the early Hurrian period. The banner emblazoned with "KRG" is a more modern borrowing from Western European heraldry.
The number 4 is prominent in the design: 4 wing feathers, 4 tail feathers, 4 red compass points and 4 green compass points. This is since greater Kurdistan is divided amongst 4 states (Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria) and because Iraqi Kurdistan is formed from the 4 northern Iraqi governorates, Arbil, Duhok, Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. However, although controlled by Kurdish forces, Kirkuk was disputed with Iraq and not part of the autonomous region until June, 2014 when the Peshmerga entered Kirkuk. [1]
An eagle has also come to be associated with the historical the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin (of Kurdish ethnic origin), and since the mid-20th century the "Eagle of Saladin" emblem has been considered a symbol of Arab nationalism. It appears in the flag of Egypt, and is used as the coat of arms Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, and formerly of the United Arab Republic, Libya and South Yemen.