Engelberg commune (Obwalden half canton, Switzerland)

Last modified: 2001-11-16 by pascal gross
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• Switzerland
• Obwalden half canton

Engelberg

Gules, on Coupeaux Vert an Angel stantant Argent crowned Or holding in dexter a sceptre of the same and in sinister a Rose of four of the third.

Zeljko Heimer, 1 December 1999

This flag is canting, as Engelberg is literally "Angel's mountain."

Ivan Sache, 30 November 1999

Rather than a rose, this looks to me as something else. My best bet would be either an aspergillum or an orb (not the "stand alone" sort, but of the kind that has a sceptre, as in some royal regalia).  Actually, I think this one is peculiar angel indeed: he wears a cap with a cross, a sceptre and an orb, the latter two being symbols of (earthly) power. I know no instance of an angel so depicted. It might be an archangel - in this case Saint Gabriel is one possibility since "(...) Gabriel is, in accordance with his name, the angel of the Power of God, and it is worth while noting the frequency with which such words as "great", "might", "power", and "strength" (...)", according to the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Santiago Dotor, 2 December 1999