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Aq Bars or Snow Leopard. Symbol of the Russian republic of Tatarstan.

Aq Bars (or Ak Bars) (Tatar: Ак Барс) is the emblem of Tatarstan. It is an ancient Bulgar symbol translated as "White Leopard" or "Snow Leopard", and has been in use since 1991 as the official symbol of Tatarstan.

Historically, this symbol was used in Volga Bulgaria and the Khanate of Kazan (Qazan) – predecessors of Tatarstan – as a state symbol. The snow leopard symbol comes from the totems of one of the Bulgar tribes – the Barsil. According to legend, the Barsils founded Bilär in Volga Bulgaria.

The creator of the current emblem is the artist Rif Fäxretdinov (Риф Фәхретдинов).

Historical coats of arms

The Russian coat of arms of Volga Bulgaria: a green shield with a silver walking lamb, holding a red gonfalone, divided by a silver[1] cross, with a golden staff.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Геральдикум: Титульные гербы
  2. ^ Госсимволика: Большой герб Российской империи (1882 г.)
  3. ^ "Всероссийский Монархический Центр – Большой Государственный Герб Российской Империи". Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2013-09-12.


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