From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Black panther (symbol)
Black panther (symbol)
Several academic historians, such as Peter Štih, have
disputed the hypothesis that the black panther was the
symbol of Carolingian and Ottonian Duchy of Carinthia.
According to their views, all mentions which would sug-
gest such a conclusion are vague. Furthermore, there is
no direct evidence of the symbol dating to the time of the
Slavic principality of Carantania. Nevertheless, the ties of
the black panther symbol with the territory of the early
Ottonian Carinthia seem to be beyond doubt.
The origins of the symbol are unclear. Some maintain
it comes from the Roman province of Noricum. Indeed,
the figure of two panthers guarding the arbor vitae can
be seen in an ancient Roman carved stone built into the
church of Maria Saal, which was the religious and admin-
istrative center of the old Carantanian principality. Fur-
thermore, the figure of the black panther was very popu-
lar in medieval legends: since ancient times, the panther
was regarded to be the deadly enemy of the dragon, thus
symbolizing the archetypal narrative about the struggle
between forces of light and darkness. In early medieval
symbolism, the panther was often depicted as a symbol
the symbol of the black panther of Christ.
Since 1991, there have been several proposals to re-
Black panther (Slovene: črni panter) is a Carinthian place the Slovenian coat of arms with the black panther.
historical symbol, which represents a stilized heraldic
panther. As a heraldic symbol, it appeared on the coat of
arms of the Carinthian Duke Herman II as well as of the
Sources
Styrian Margrave Ottokar III. In this region it was most • Andrej Pleterski, "Karantanski Rašamon ali mit pred
frequently imaged on various monuments and tomb- mitom" in Delo, y. 39, n. 118 (May 24, 1997).
stones. • Peter Štih, "Brskanje po zgodovini in iskanje
The symbol can still be found in the coat of arms of slovenskih simbolov" in Delo, y. 30, n. 130 (June 6,
the Austrian state of Styria, although the colours have 1990).
changed. • Jožko Šavli, Slovenski simboli (Bilje: Založba Humar,
The symbol of the black panther in its current version 1995).
was first reconstructed by self-declared historian Jožko
Šavli in the 1980s. Šavli claims that he discovered that
several feudal families originating from the old Caran-
See also
tanian area had a black panther in their dynastic coat • National symbols of Slovenia
of arms. He also claims he discovered several documents • Prince’s Stone
mentioning the black panther as an ancient symbol of • Duke’s Chair
Caranthania. From all these evidences he made a recon-
struction of how the symbol of Carolingian Caranthania
most probably looked like.
Šavli’s reconstruction soon gained some popularity
among younger generations of Slovenian patriots and
nationalists. In the last two decades, it has become one of
the most recognizable symbols of Slovenian patriotism. It
is also used by several nationalistic groups.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Black panther (symbol)
Categories:
• History of Slovenia
• European history stubs
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