Emblem of Syria Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Emblem of Syria

Versions
The emblem of Syria, with bigger stars, seen on presidential lecterns

Armiger	Syria
Adopted	3 July 2025
Blazon	a tan-coloured eagle, facing to its right dexter, with three five-pointed stars arranged in an arc above its head, the tail contains five feathers and the wing contains fourteen feathers.
Earlier version(s)
Use	De facto emblem used by the Syrian caretaker government and the Syrian transitional government

The national emblem of Syria features a tan-colored eagle. It faces to its right side. Above its head are three five-pointed stars in a curve. The eagle's tail has five feathers. These feathers stand for Syria's five main regions: the north, east, west, south, and center. Its wings have 14 feathers. These symbolize the country's 14 governorates. This emblem became official on July 3, 2025.

Before this design, Syria used different national symbols. These often featured a bird holding a shield. The country's name was usually on a scroll below.

Understanding Syria's National Emblem
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Understanding Syria's National Emblem

Early Emblems of Syria

From 1930 until 2025, Syria used various national symbols. An early emblem, adopted in 1945, featured an Arab shield. This shield had three stars, like those on the Syrian flag. An eagle, a symbol from Arab history, embraced the shield. This eagle was a banner for ancient Arab leaders.

The shield also had three lines around it. At the bottom were two wheat stalks. These showed that farming was important to Syria. The eagle held a ribbon in its claws. On it, the words "The Syrian Republic" were written. This design was created by artist Khaled Al-Asali.

Later, a new identity and logo were designed. Mohammad Selwaye and Waseem Kadoura led a team of 40 creative people. They worked to create the current emblem.

The United Arab Republic Emblem

From 1958 to 1961, Syria joined with Egypt. They formed the United Arab Republic (UAR). During this time, they used a different national symbol. This was the Eagle of Saladin. It was named after a famous leader, Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. The eagle stood on a base with the words "United Arab Republic." It also had a shield on its chest, showing the UAR flag.

Some people thought the bird on ancient walls might be a falcon, not an eagle. This led to some discussion. However, the symbol remained in use.

Syria Returns to Its Own Symbol

Syria left the United Arab Republic on September 28, 1961. After this, Syria brought back its own national emblem. This symbol was known as the Hawk of Quraish. This decision was made official very quickly. It showed Syria was returning to its symbols from before 1958.

Changes to the Syrian Emblem

In 1969, Syria's emblem was updated again. It still featured an Arab shield with three green stars. A Hawk (al-‘Uqab) embraced the shield. Two wheat stalks were at the bottom. The hawk held a scroll with "Syrian Arab Republic" written on it.

The hawk was metallic in color. Its wings had silver and gold lines. The shield had three green stars on a silver background. Red, white, and black lines surrounded the stars. The wheat stalks were golden, like real wheat. This hawk symbol later became part of the Federation of Arab Republics. This was a group that included Syria, Egypt, and Libya.

The Hawk of Quraish and Its Meaning

In 1972, the Hawk of Quraish was used in the Federation of Arab Republics. Experts explained that the hawk stands for pride, courage, and leadership. Hawks live in mountains and hunt live prey. They do not eat dead animals. This made them a symbol of bravery.

There was some confusion between the eagle and the hawk. This happened after Syria joined Egypt in the UAR. Egypt used an eagle. When Syria left the UAR, it brought back the Hawk of Quraish. But many people still called it an "eagle." To tell them apart, Syria showed its hawk with open wings. Egypt's eagle had folded wings.

Finalizing the Emblem's Look

After the Federation ended, Syria kept the Hawk of Quraish. This emblem was officially adopted by law on June 21, 1980. It showed the Hawk of Quraish holding a shield. The shield had the Syrian flag colors: red, white, and black stripes with two green stars. A scroll below read "Syrian Arab Republic."

Syria's Emblem Today

From 2011, Syria went through a period of change. During this time, different groups used various symbols.

After a change in government in December 2024, a new emblem was used for a short time. This emblem featured the Hawk of Quraish facing right. It had a shield based on Syria's independence flag from 1946.

A brand new emblem was adopted on July 3, 2025. This emblem shows a golden eagle. This eagle is inspired by ancient art from Palmyra. Above the eagle are three stars, taken from the Syrian flag. These stars generally mean freedom for the people. The first star represents areas like Aleppo and Damascus. The second star is for the Druze Mountain region. The third star is for the Sanjak of Latakia. This shows the many different groups of people in Syria.

The eagle has 14 feathers. These stand for the country's 14 governorates. It also has five tail feathers. These symbolize Syria's five main geographic regions: north, east, west, south, and center.