Einsiedeln
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Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Switzerland - Schweizer Wappen / Armorial de Suisse |
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EINSIEDELN
Canton : Schwyz
Additions : 19?? Binzen, Egg, Gross, Willerzell
Official blazon
Origin/meaning
The arms show two ravens, derived from the legend of St. Meinrad, patron saint of the village.
St. Meinrad lived from before 800 to 861. After receiving religious instruction and experience at the monastery school of Reichenau, he was sent to a community south of Lake Zurich. After a time he decided
to lead an isolated life of contemplation in the nearby forests.
The tale goes on to relate how, in January of 861, two brigands clubbed Meinrad to death and stole what treasures he had. Meinrad had had two domesticated ravens, which were described to have pursued the brigands as far as Zurich.
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 Variations of the arms in the Kaffee Hag albums 1914-1960 |
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Literature : Mühlmann, 1977 and 1997; legend taken from "Einsiedeln: The Monastery and Church of Our Lady of the Hermits" by Georg Holzherr, Munchen & Zurich. ISBN 3-7954-0673-0.