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Market Town of Isen (Germany)

Markt Isen, Kreis Erding, Oberbayern District, Bavaria

Last modified: 2015-05-12 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: isen | mermaid | siren |
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[Isen town flag (Germany)] 5:2 image by M. Schmöger, 2 Apr 2001
approved 8 Feb 1984
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Description

 Emperor Karl V granted the arms to Isen in 1548, blazon: Azure, a mermaid proper habited Gules and crowned Or, holding up her tails Or. After the municipal reform this arms were readopted and concurrently a flag was officially adopted (8th February 1984). The flag is red-yellow-red and usually (but not always) displays the arms.
M. Schmöger, 2 Apr 2001

The meaning or origin of the figure in the arms is not quite clear. The arms were granted in 1548 by Emperor Karl V. In the original description the figure is described as a (mythological) siren. There is no firther explanation. During Renaissance era it was fashionable to populate nature with mythical creatures. One hypothesis says, the siren is considered to be dwelling in Isen river. The village became a town in 1438 (...). The town was a part of the State of Freising, which used completely different arms. Ever since 1548 the arms have been used, although the clothing of the siren has sometimes changed (or was removed completely).
Source: Stadler 1965, p.80
Santiago Dotor, 11 Apr 2002

The Coat of arms of the municipality of Dunajov, in Cadca district, Slovakia, has exactly the same maiden, named "Meluzina"; on this website I found "The Myth of Melusina", copied to the Dunajov page.
Jarig Bakker, 20 Dec 2003

Variant without Coat-of-Arms

[Market-Town of Isen, variant without Coat-of-Arms (Erding County, Bavaria, Germany)] image by M. Schmöger, 2 Apr 2001
approved 8 Feb 1984

Flag used unofficially before 1984

[Market-Town of Isen, flag used unofficially before 1984 (Erding County, Bavaria, Germany)] image by M. Schmöger, 2 Apr 2001
flag used unofficially before 1984

Before 1984 a flag of green-white was in unofficial use. It is unclear since when this had been used and where the colours had been derived from.
M. Schmöger, 2 Apr 2001

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