A New Three-Blazon Genoese Coat of Arms Discovered
A newly discovered three-blazon Genoese coat of arms from Amasra's inner castle features the Crusader Republic, Doria family, and Podestà emblems, now held at Amasra Museum.
Among the ruins of the old Genoese castle in İçkale, a new three-blazon Genoese coat of arms was discovered on 3 October 2006 and taken to Amasra Museum. With this find, yet another coat of arms was added to the Genoese heraldic pieces already visible on the castle walls and in the museum in Amasra.
This new coat of arms, like all the others, displays the blazon of the Crusader Republic of Genoa, together with a coat of arms of the Doria family and the coat of arms of the family of the Podestà in office at the time the shield was installed. The eagle figure on the Doria family blazon in particular is rendered in a highly realistic manner — an original, non-stylised relief. As with many other Genoese coats of arms, this new piece appears to have been carved on the reverse face of an architrave, most probably dating from the Roman period, obtained from the ancient city of Amasra, with the original surface erased.
A photograph of the coat of arms will be forwarded to our distinguished fellow townsman, the renowned Byzantinist and art historian, Professor Dr. Semavi Eyice, to seek his expert opinion.
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