Last modified: 2021-08-26 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: boyaca | somondoco |
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image by Ivan Sache, 26 September 2008
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Somondoco is a municipality in the Colombian Department of
Boyacá, part of the the subregion of the Eastern Boyacá
Province. It was founded on 1 November 1537.
The flag of Somondoco is horizontally divided green-blue-purple.
It was adopted by decree 007 of 1 December 1979.
Source: municipal
web site
Dov Gutterman, 13 September 2008
Translated from municipal
web site: "According to Decree No 007 on 1 December
1979: The following flag is adopted as the municipa flag: three
horizontal stripes of equal dimensions, green, blue and purple.
The colours are the same as those of the coat of arms and
followed the hierarchy on it. The flag shall be one third longer
than high."
The municipal coat of arms was adopted by the same Decree as the
flag.
The shield is oval, supported by a stylized eagle.
The chief of the shield is charged with Mount Somondoco, the main
emblem of the town, on top of which the inhabitants have built
the emblem of their faith, the Christ of the Mount. The flanks of
the mountains are bristeld with huge caves, locally said to lead
to the underground road built by the first inhabitants of the
place to reach the plains of San Martín and Casanare and to hide
the treasures of the cacique from the Conquistadores' greed. The
foreground of the landscape shows the new, artificial laguna of
Chivor, set up on river Somondoco to contribute to
electrification of Colombia. In the middle is placed a cut
emerald, recording that Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada commissioned
Captain Pedro Fernández de Valenzuela to find the emeralds
mines, whose location had been revealed by a Muisca under
torture.
The dexter canton, azure, represents the professional involvment
of the people from Somondoco. The charges, argent, are a toga, a
book and a judge cap, as symbols of the moral force of the
inhabitants of Somondoco.
The sinister canton, purple, represents the religious feelings,
aspiration to perfection, respect of justice and dedication to
truth and faith. The charge is a bishop's miter argent, recalling
the foundation of the parish of St. Sebastian og Somondoco 200
years ago and the parish priests who were subsequently appointed
Bishops of Tunja and Pamplona, Severo García, José Benigno
Perilla and Indalecio Barreto.
This is not the first occurrence of a flag prescribed to be
"one third longer than high". I am wondering if this is
not a general prescription for all the municipalities of the
department of Boyacá.
Ivan Sache, 26 September 2008
image from municipal
web site