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South African Museums

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 25 Jan 2002

South African Museums

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South African Museums flag

Description of the museum flag by G.P. Klinghardt, South African Museum, Sagittarius Volume 2, number 3:
The flag was designed in August 1987 by Dr C. Pama, the renown South African herald.
The symbolism of the flag and the coat-of-arms reflect the many interests of the South African Museum. Of the three colours, gold can be seen to represent the earth sciences, blue the marine sciences, and red the other life sciences (including the human sciences), while a combination of blue and gold can be taken to signify the astronomical sciences. The charges can be understood to commemorate the most important historical research of the Museum: the rare Colophon beetles stand for Entomology as the oldest research department, the lion for Natural History, and the three rings for the Humanities.
In this heraldically unique and distinguished flag, the South African Museum has at last obtained a significant public symbol not only of its autonomy as an important contemporary cultural institution, but also of the history and continuity which are part of its character.
Jarig Bakker, 25 Jan 2002