Last modified: 2016-11-30 by ian macdonald
Keywords: maranhao | alcântara | heri | hodie |
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image by Eduardo Machado Corrêa, 18 December 2003
Alcântara city is located in Maranhão state in Brazil. Itīs written in Latin
HERI, HODIE ET IN SAECULA which translation is: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND IN THE
CENTURIES. The green color means the sugar cane production and the white means
the cotton production. Both were the ancient wealth of this city during the
slavery times, two centuries ago. The laurels represent glory and in the middle
the red cross is the symbol of the Order of Christ, a Portuguese religious order
which fought against the Arabs in Portugal in the XV century. They also
sponsored the great Portuguese navigations all over the world in that time. In
the center the little cross is formed with 5 yellow squares. Each one represents
a wound that Jesus suffered before his death: 2 on the hands, 2 on the legs and
the ultimate in his body. Finally, the city was founded in December 22th, 1648.
In this city is located a modern Brazilian space center (
www.cla.aer.mil.br ) which has become
more and more important.
Eduardo Machado Corrêa, 18 December 2003