Coats of arms of Poltava city
There is evidence that the oldest coat of arms of Poltava is a coat of arms of Glynsky family. It was a picture
of the throne. For some time the city was owned by Ahrafena Baybuza (maiden name Glynska). She bequeathed her city to her son-in-law Mykhailo Hribunovych. There was a picture of snake pierced by an arrow in the family coat of arms, and three golden mushrooms.
Subsequently Poltava passed into the possession of Vishnevetsky family and received its coat of arms. It was a picture of a bow bent by arrow. Arrow pierced red heart with three white stripes across.
In the XVII century in the coat of arms of Poltava, which was approved by Bohdan Khmelnytsky, who was well acquainted with the history of Ukraine, was perfectly reproduced old Bulgar symbols: in the blue field 
of the shield was a golden bent bow directed to the ground. It is surrounded by four hexahedral gold stars on the corners. The whole image of the emblem symbolizes the peaceful clear sky (blue), peace (arrow directed to the ground) - calm after the battle. Golden bow with the same arrow was an attribute of the royal family of Dulo, to which also belonged Kubrat, the ruler of Great Bulgaria and Baltavar (Poltava) in the VII century. Only representatives of this family had the right to place this symbol in their coat. A hexahedral tenhgrian star - sign of God Tengri - later became a respected sign of many nations, including Ukrainian, many representatives of noble Ukrainian families placed it in their coats of arms. This fact once again confirms the reliability of the stories of old-Bulgar chronicles about ancient times of the city Baltavar - Poltava.
In the early eighteenth century, when Poltava was in the Russian Empire, a member of the Heraldry Office Francis Santi elaborated design of the emblems for 88 provincial cities. Among them were also Poltava, which in 1730 received its new coat of arms. Its shield was divided into four parts diagonally. At the top on a red background were depicted two crossed swords. On the left side of the shield of the arms was red flag of the Russian Empire with Monogram of Peter I. The right side contained a green palm tree - the symbol of the victory of Russian troops in the Battle of Poltava 1709. In the bottom blue field was gold pyramid with a symbol of eternity - golden snake, twisted into a ring. In her mouth the snake is holding her tail. By the project of armorists, it was to symbolize the eternal glory of warriors who died in the battle. Pyramid is not accidentally placed in the arms of 
the city. In 1723 Peter I ordered to build this particular structure to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Poltava. But his plan was not implemented, instead of a pyramid in the center of the city by the design of architect M. Amvrosimov was built a monument of Fame: leaden column, crowned with a gilded eagle, holding in its talons the arrows of the war directed towards Poltava battle field, and in its beak - a laurel wreath. Therefore pyramid remained only on the arms. And ironically at the end of the next century in Poltava were still built two pyramids. In 1796 there was a new administrative-territorial division of the left-bank Ukraine. Then in 1803, a coat of arms of Poltava has received approval and existed until 1917.
In the nineteenth century B. Kene proposed a new project of arms. At the
bottom of the yellow shield was placed a black triangle in the form of the monument with a gold snake, twisted into a ring. Beyond the monument loomed two green flags with dark red handle with edges of the spear, on the banners - image of the Monogram of Peter I. Slightly higher - crossed dark red swords. Above the shield there was a silver crown of the city. Golden ears winded round with Alexander tape served as a framing. The project was not approved, though it served as the basis for the approved emblem of the province of Poltava in 1878.
March 3, 1993 Poltava City Council approved the coat of arms of the modern city. Escutcheon was taken from the master stamp of 1700's. Purple color symbolizes dignity, piety and generosity. The central part of the arms duplicated the coat of arms of Bohdan Khmelnytsky: the golden bow with an arrow, tips of which are directed downwards. In the corners of the shield - gold hexahedral stars-symbols of the four parts of the world. Interesting is the inscription "Poltava", placed in the head of the shield and written in old Slavonic. The letter T looks like a heraldic cross.
