Last modified: 2009-11-21 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: écija | crown: mural | sun (yellow) |
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The municipality of Écija (40,143 inhabitants in 2008; 97,873 ha) is located in the West of the Province of Seville, 90 km from the provincial capital. The town is known as "Ciudad del Sol" (Sun Town), "Ciudad de las Torres" (The Tower's Town) and "Sartén de Andalucía" (The Andalusian Frying Pan). Écija indeed enjoys a sunny, hot weather; in July 1966, a temperature of 48 °C (in the shade!) was recorded.
Founded in the 8th century BC, the settlement of Écija became in 14 BC the brand new Roman colony "Colonia Augusta Firma Astigi," a big town with paved streets, a forum, temples, water supply and a sewerage system. Located on the Via Augusta and watching the bridge crossing river Genil, Astigi was the administrative capital of one of the four jurisdictions of the Betic Province, ruling 49 towns and encompassing most of the modern provinces of Córdoba, Granada and Jaén. Olive oil, exported via the Genil, the Guadalquivir and the sea port of Seville, made the wealth of the town. The town remained a significant political and cultural center during the Wisigothic period, as the seat of a bishopric, and during the Moslim period, as a provincial capital called Istiŷa / Astiŷa. Berber colonists developed agriculture, introducing cotton growing, so that the town became famous as Madînat al-Qutn (Cotton Town)..
Reconquered in 1240 by Ferdinand III, Écija was resettled under the feudal system, with big domains allocated to feudal lords, military orders and religious bodies. The 18th century was the Gilded Age of Écija; there were once in the town (at least as nominal owners) 40 noble lords, including 13 Grandees of Spain. The historic center of the town is one of the most comprehensive Baroque whole in Andalusia and even in the Iberian Peninsula, with a wide array of palaces, churches with towers, convents, manors...
In 1402, Henry II granted the title of "ciudad" (town) to Écija; Charles I added "Muy leal" (Very loyal) and "Muy noble" (Very noble), completed in 1710 by Philip V to "Constante, leal y fidelísima" (Constant, loyal and most lawful). In 1880, Alfonso XII allowed the town to be named "Excelentisimo" (Most excellent). In 1966, the heritage of the town was recognized by the title of "Conjunto histórico-artístico" (Historic-artistic grouping) granted by the Ministry of Culture.
Source: Municipal website
A small image of the flag, credited to "User:Dni626," is shown on Wikipedia.
Ivan Sache, 29 Jun 2009
The flag and arms of Écija were approved by the Municipal Council and submitted on 27 February 2009 to the General Directorate of Local Administration, which confirmed them by Decree on 24 March 2009, published in the Andalusian official gazette (BoletÃn Oficial de la Junta de AndalucÃa, BOJA) No. 67 on 7 April 2009.
The relevant parts of the Decree are the following:
Coat of arms: Description: Azure a sun with a human face or and a border or charged with the Latin motto "ASTIGI. CIVITAS SOLIS VOCABITUR UNA" sable; the shield surmounted by a mural crown or with five creneled towers and four machicolations, masoned sable, port and windows azure; around the shield, a scroll with the honorific titles "MUY NOBLE," "MUY LEAL" and "CONSTANTE, LEAL Y FIDELÍSIMA.
Flag: Description: Blue flag. In the middle a yellow sun with a human face.
The symbols should be registered on the Andalusian Register of Local Entities, with their official written description and graphics (as originally submitted, but unfortunately not apprended to the Decree.
Source: BOJA, No. 67, pp. 56, 07 Apr 2009
Ivan Sache, 29 Jun 2009
The explanation of the arms is given in the municipal website as follows: - Astigi is the name of the Roman colony that predated Écija; the mural crown recalls the glorious history of the town; - there was in the antique town of Astigi a temple dedicated to the sun; the town was nicknamed "Civitas Solis" (Sun Town), on the model of the Egyptian Heliopolis. - the Latin motto (There should be only one Sun Town) comes from Isaiah (XIX, 18), who prophesied that there would be only one Sun Town among the five towns of Egypt.
Source: Municipal website
Ivan Sache, 29 Jun 2009
