This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Zaruma Canton (El Oro, Ecuador)

Cantón de Zaruma

Last modified: 2009-07-26 by dov gutterman
Keywords: el oro | zaruma |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors




image by Ivan Sarajcic, 14 September 2007



See also:


Overview

At <www.cuencadeljubones.gov.ec> there is a flag of five stripes: yellow-green-yellow-red-yellow, with 9 white stars on the central yellow stripe. Same flag but without the stars appears at <www.mipasaje.com>, and the description say that there should be six stars in two groups of three besides the coat of arms.
Dov Gutterman, 14 September 2007

The canton of Zaruma was formed on 26 November 1820. The place was named after two Quechua words, "saramaiz" and "uma", meaning together "maize cob". Due to it resources in gold, the town was awarded in 1595 by King of Spain Philip II the official name of "Villa Real de San Antonio del Cerro de Oro de Zaruma" (Royal Town of St. Anthony of the Gold Mountain of Zaruma).
Translated from <www.mipasaje.com>:
"Authors: Juan Francisco Ordoñez R. and Héctor A. Toro B.
The flag is made of three yellow stripes separated from each other by a green stripe and a red stripe.
Yellow symbolizes the gold resources of the canton and the gold filling the heart and spirit of the inhabitants. Green symbolizes the abundant vegetation and the hope in the conquest of a happy and great future fhrough fraternity, work and culture. Red symbolizes the never denied loyalty of the inhabitants towards the Ecuadorian homeland, the civic fire burning in their veins and their love of liberty, courage, science and beauty.
In the center, in the middle of six white stars, three on each side, is placed the coat of arms of Zaruma, on a blue field, the colour of the sky, the six stars representing the six rural parishes forming the canton.
The flag shall be 2.50 m in length and 1.40 in width, with the stripes as follows: the upper yellow stripe, 20 cm; the green stripe, 30 com; the central yellow stripe, charged with the coat of arms and the stars; 40 cm; the red stripe: 30 cm, and the lower yellow stripe, 20 cm."
The coat of arms is described as follows (same source as for the flag):  
"Author: José Joaquin Palacios
The shield is divided in three quarterd. Dexter or with a representation of apart of the town of Zaruma with the elegant tower of the church of the mother parish, surrounded by a few houses, corresponding to the western part of the town and the road fo the Castillo and Portovelo. In base a part of the mining resources of Portovelo, with the steelworks and mills where the gold-bearing quartz is triturated. In this part are also represented the entrance of a mine and the Yellow River running near the concession. The field is gold to symbolize the gold resource of the region, the origin of the name of the province.
The sinister part of the shield is divided into two quarters, argent (top) and gules (bottom). On the quarter argent are represented the symbols of the independence of Zaruma, a Phrygian cap (a classic symbol of liberty) and crossed, the mining tools: two miner's picks and a steel "comba", and a garb of rice, the main crop and staple food of the canton. These symbols are placed on a field argent becaue of their constatn relation with mercantile transactions, the shield is also crowned by Mercury's caduceus, emblem of trade and concord. On the gules quarter, heraldically symbolizing love, liberty, passion and loyalty, that is the greatest virtues of the human heart, is placed a cornucopia or, filles with tropical flowers and fruits, repersenting theagricultural resources of the canton.
Under the shield is placed a red scroll bearing the date of independence of Zaruma, 26 November 1820"
Ivan Sache, 4 October 2008