Emblem of Syria Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Emblem of Syria

Armiger	Syria
Adopted	3 July 2025
Blazon	a gold-coloured eagle, facing to its right dexter, with three five-pointed stars arranged in an arc above its head and the wings contain 14 feathers.

The national emblem of Syria is a special symbol for the country. It shows a gold-colored eagle, which is a powerful bird. The eagle faces to its right side. Above its head, there are three five-pointed stars in a curved line.

The eagle's wings have 14 feathers. These feathers stand for the 14 different areas, called governorates, that make up Syria. This emblem became the official symbol on July 3, 2025. Before this, Syria used different emblems, often featuring a hawk or eagle holding a shield with the country's name.

History of Syria's National Emblem
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History of Syria's National Emblem

Early Syrian Republic Emblems

In 1945, the Syrian Republic adopted an emblem. It had an Arab shield with three stars, just like the stars on the Syrian flag at that time. An eagle, inspired by ancient Arab history, held this shield. This eagle was a symbol of strength and heritage.

At the bottom of the shield, there were two wheat stalks. These stalks showed that farming was very important to Syria. The eagle also held a ribbon with the words "The Syrian Republic" written on it. A Syrian artist and diplomat named Khaled Al-Asali designed this emblem.

The United Arab Republic Emblem

From 1958 to 1961, Syria joined with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). During this time, they used a new national emblem. This emblem featured the Eagle of Saladin. Saladin was a famous leader from history.

The eagle stood on a base with the words "United Arab Republic" written on it. It also had a shield on its chest that looked like the flag of the UAR. Even though Syria left the union in 1961, Egypt continued to use this eagle symbol for some time.

Syria Returns to Its Original Symbol

After Syria left the United Arab Republic on September 28, 1961, it went back to using its earlier national symbols. This meant the country brought back the Hawk of Quraish as its national emblem. This decision was made official just a few days later.

The government announced that the national flag and emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic would be the same as those used before 1958. This showed Syria was returning to its own unique identity.

Changes Under the Ba'athist Government

In 1969, Syria's emblem was changed again. The new design still featured an Arab shield with three green stars. A hawk, known as the Hawk of Quraish, held the shield. At the bottom, there were two golden wheat stalks, symbolizing agriculture.

The hawk held a scroll with "Syrian Arab Republic" written on it. The hawk itself was metallic in color, with silver and gold lines on its wings. This hawk later became the emblem for the Federation of Arab Republics, which included Syria, Egypt, and Libya.

The Hawk of Quraish Symbolism

The hawk was chosen as a symbol because it represents pride, courage, and leadership. Unlike eagles, hawks only hunt live prey and do not eat dead animals. This was seen as a sign of bravery without being overly aggressive.

There was some confusion between the hawk and the eagle. When Syria was part of the United Arab Republic, they used an eagle. After leaving, they went back to the hawk. However, many people still called the national symbol an "eagle."

Finalizing the Design

After the Federation of Arab Republics ended, Syria continued to use the Hawk of Quraish. This emblem was officially adopted by law in 1980. It showed the Hawk of Quraish holding a shield with the Syrian flag's colors and stars. Below the shield, a scroll read "Syrian Arab Republic."

Syria's Emblem Since 2011

During the Syrian Civil War, which started in 2011, different groups in Syria used various symbols. After the government changed in December 2024, a new temporary emblem was used. This emblem featured the Hawk of Quraish facing a different direction and a shield based on Syria's independence flag.

On July 3, 2025, a brand new official emblem was adopted. This emblem shows an eagle, inspired by ancient art from a place called Palmyra. Above the eagle are three stars from the Syrian flag. The eagle has 14 feathers, representing Syria's 14 governorates. It also has five feathers that stand for Syria's five main geographic regions: north, east, west, south, and center.