double-headed eagle
Two-faced imperial bird
A double-headed eagle is a heraldic symbol depicting an eagle with two heads facing opposite directions, representing dominion over East and West or temporal and spiritual authority.
It appears on coats of arms, flags, and official emblems of various nations and institutions, including the Byzantine Empire, the Russian Empire, and the Albanian flag.
The symbol suggests vigilance in all directions and unified power.
- heraldryStudy of armorial bearings
- crestHighest point or tuft
- coat of armsHereditary symbolic emblem
- ByzantineOf Constantinople's civilization
- imperialRelating to supreme rule
imperial seal · Russia · Austria · Habsburg · wings · emblem · national emblem · throne · crown · sovereignty · Holy Roman Empire · Constantinople · Eastern Orthodox · empire · tsarist · banner · shield · talons
- bestiary creaturesdragon, mermaid, unicorn, phoenix, centaur
- Byzantine legacyConstantinople, Hagia Sophia, Byzantine art, Eastern Orthodoxy, Orthodox Church
- European Symbolsfleur-de-lis, Celtic cross, EU flag, shamrock, thistle
- Heraldic Birdspelican, griffin, cockatrice, harpy, falcon
- Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire, emperors, electors, prince-electors, Charlemagne
- Multi-Headed CreaturesCerberus, Hydra, hydra, chimera
double-headed eagleliberty cap
Conical hat denoting manumission
hammer and sickle · bald eagle · fasces · stars and stripes · tricolor flag
double, doubled, doubling, doubles, doubly, headed, heading, headless, header