This coat of arms was granted to cities that were in constant defense
During the era of Magdeburg rights, the coat of arms of Kyiv did not feature the familiar Archangel Michael. Historian, guide, and blogger Tetiana Lytvyn explained to the project “Kashtan.Interview” why Kyivans chose this particular symbolism at the end of the 15th century.
“Now we have Archangel Michael, but back then we had a different coat of arms – a hand drawing a bowstring. If we look at European heraldry, it states that in medieval Europe, a coat of arms featuring a drawn bowstring was granted to cities that were in constant defense. And this is about our Kyiv. When I show this coat of arms during a tour, I say: ‘Now let’s imagine that instead of this arrow, we place a Patriot air defense system here. Has anything changed for Kyiv? Nothing has changed, because this is Kyiv,’” the historian shared.
Watch the full conversation with Tetiana Lytvyn in the latest episode of “Kashtan.Interview.”