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The State Emblem

The official emblem of the Republic of Lithuania is called the Vytis. In it is pictured a white knight mounted on a steed set against a red background. This charging knight first appeared as the state emblem in 1366 on Algirdas's, Grand Duke of Lithuania's seal. This early form of the Vytis probably depicted the most powerful Lithuanian deity of that time the god of thunder, Perkunas, who was similarly visualized in other Indo-European cultures. During Lithuania's incorporation into the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth and the Russian empire, the Vytis was added to these states' emblems.


next previous contents
Next: The Lithuanian Flag Previous: State Structure

"LITHUANIAN ROOTS", Edited by Rytis Ambrazevicius

Copyright ©, 1996 Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre.