National symbols of Pecario

The national symbols of Pecario are those symbols which represent the Pecarian Republic and its identity as a sovereign state. These symbols, whether official or unofficial, seek to represent Pecario and Pecarian identity by typifying or embodying its history, people, culture, political values, and geography.

Official emblems

The Flag of the Pecarian Republic.

National flag

The flag of Pecario, as established by the country's constitution and its current legislation on national symbols, is flag of dark green velvet with a cherry red chevron at the hoist, within which is a white jaguar. Originally designed by Joaquin Nápoles in 1760 and adopted by the Revolutionary Army shortly thereafter during the Pecarian War of Independence. Additionally, government entities sometimes use a state flag variant in which the white jaguar is replaced by the country's coat of arms.

The flag's symbolism, originally outlined by Nápoles himself, is well-established in the country's popular consciousness; green is held to represent the country's natural wealth and duty, while red symbolizes the blood of patriots shed in defense of liberty and independence. The white jaguar, depicted within the red cherry chevron, signifies purity and the noble ideals that guided the Pecarian revolutionaries during their fight for liberty.

Pecario celebrates Flag Day on 15 August, the anniversary of the flag's original adoption during the Pecarian Revolution. Pecario's flag is widely regarded as one of its most recognizable and respected national symbols; the white jaguar on the left of the banner has become a particularly potent symbol of Pecario and the Pecarian Republic both nationally and internationally, widely incorporated into the emblems and logos of other entities, both public and private.

The Coat of arms of Pecario.

Coat of arms

Pecario's coat of arms was detailed in its current specifications in 1941 but some variant of the coat of arms has been used since 1760, when the first version of it was created amidst the Pecarian War of Independence. The creation of the original version of the coat of arms is attributed to Cesar Ayerbe and Eloy Conde drawing heavily from the national flag created by Joaquin Nápoles.

Pecario's national cockade.

Cockade

The national cockade of Pecario is arranged as concentric circular bands or folds of ribbon, often resembling a flower or rosette. The outermost band is dark green velvet, the middle band is white, and the innermost band is red, reflecting the colors of the Pecarian flag.

The cockade was created during the Pecarian Revolution created by Pecarian women and Pecarian militiamen to show support for the revolutionaries dring the Pecarian War of Independence.

Motto

The official motto of Pecario is "Unidos en la diversidad, juntos hacia el futuro," which translates in anglish to "United in diversity, together towards the future." This phrase encapsulates Pecario's national ethos: a belief in unity despite differences, and a collective vision of progress and prosperity for the future. The motto emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and cooperation in the nation's pursuit of growth and harmony.

"Unidos en la diversidad, juntos hacia el futuro" was adopted during the revolutionary period in Pecario's history, as the nation sought to solidify its identity following its independence. It was proposed as a rallying cry by a group of reformists who believed that unity in the face of cultural, ethnic, and social diversity would be key to Pecario's success.

Biology & geology

The jaguar is the animal most widely used to symbolize Pecario.

Animals

A megadiverse country on account of its geographic and climactic diversity, at least 54,000 plant and animal species inhabit Pecario, more than 9,000 of which are endemic. Accordingly, the country has several official and unofficial national animals, as well as a variety of animal species associated with specific regions of the country.

Mammals

Pecario's national carnivorous mammal, and the animal most commonly used to symbolize Pecario, is the jaguar). The jaguar's natural range once encompassed almost all of Pecario; however, deforestation and habitat fragmentation have seen it extirpated from the country's western and eastern region. The alpaca, a species native to the Cordillera del Sol Mountains, is Pecario's national herbivorous mammal; the species produces small amounts of very fine wool which, during the Tuachec period, only royals and nobles were allowed to wear. The country's national aquatic mammal is the emerald river dolphin, which is native to the Río Frontera; the Emerald river Dolphin has been classified as endangered since the 1990s due to Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Pecarian herding dog is Pecario's national dog breed. Associated with the hinterlands region of the country, the breed likely emerged in the 19th century and is believed to be derived mostly from collie stock; while primarily used a herding dog, the dog's intelligence and temperament also make it ideal as a watchdog and companion dog. Pecario's national horse breed is the Pecarian Paso, a breed of riding horse known for its ambling gait, which is smoother than a typical trot; the foundation stock of the breed is believed to have arrived in the country in the early Iberic colonial period.

Pecario is home to multiple mammal species and breeds which were domesticated or created within the country, and which are not officially national animals but are nonetheless widely associated with Pecario as a result. The llama and alpaca were both domesticated in Pecario in the 6,000s BCE from wild guanaco and vicunas respectively; llamas were the primary pack animal in what would become Pecario throughout the pre-colonial period and have continued to play this role into the present, and both llamas and alpacas have long been used for their meat and wool in Pecario. The guinea pig was also domesticated in Pecario as a source of meat. The Pecarian hairless dog is believed to date back to the 600 CE, appearing in artworks by the early Guaruma culture, and has often been proposed as an alternative national dog breed.

Other mammal species unofficially associated with Pecario or with regions of Aucuria include the puma, maned wolf, culpeo, ocelot, capybara, and chinchilla.

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  The jaguar is Pecario's national carnivorous mammal.

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  A Pecarian man and his alpaca.

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  The river dolphin is native to the Río Frontera.

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  The Pecarian herding dog emerged in the 1800s.

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  An Pecario Paso parent and foal.

The Cordilleran condor and rufous hornero are Pecario's national bird and songbird respectively.

Birds

The national bird of Pecario is the Cordilleran condor, the largest bird of prey in the wurld, and one of the wurld's longest-lived birds, with lifespans of up to 70 years. A scavenger native to the Cordillera del Sol Mountains and the country's highlands region, the condor has long played a role in indigenous Pecarian mythology, regarded as a symbol of the sky and the moon. However, it has become vulnerable due to habitat fragmentation. The rufous hornero is Pecario's national songbird, and can be found widely in the country's plain and savanna regions.

While neither holds official status, the harpy eagle and crested caracara are also widely associated with Pecario, the harpy eagle with the regions of Pecario dominated by the rainforest and the caracara with the country's plains and coastal hills. The kuti is another bird species commonly associated with Pecario.

Various species of macaw, toucan, hummingbird, and vireo are sometimes popularly associated with particular states or regions of the country.

The green anaconda is Pecario's official national reptile.

Reptiles

Pecario's official national reptile is the green anaconda, which is the wurld's largest species of snake by weight and the second-largest by length (behind only the reticulated python. The country also has an official aquatic reptile, the black caiman, a keystone species in the pantanal ecosystem.

Reptiles associated unofficially with Pecario, or associated with particular regions of Pecario, include the hawksbill sea turtle, green iguana and boa constrictor.

Others

The national amphibian of Pecario is the yellow-banded poison dart frog, which is endemic to the country. Pecario is also known for poison dart frogs generally, as many species of poison dart frog are endemic to the country; unfortunately, due to limited ranges and the threat of deforestation, many of these species are also seriously endangered.

Pecario's national fish is the astyanax pecariensis, a freshwater fish. The Pecarian Azurewing, a species of butterfly, is Pecario's national insect.

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  Poison dart frogs are some of Pecario's most famous amphibians.

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  A pair of Astyanax pecariensis.

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  Pecario's national butterfly is the Pecarian Azurewing.

The Cantua, is Pecario's national flower.

Plants

Pecario's official national flower is the cantuta, sometimes referred to as the "Pecarian magic tree" or the "sacred flower of the Tuachecs". Found in the high valleys of the Cordillera del Sol Mountains, the flower plays an important role in Tuachec legend as a symbol of fertility, reconciliation, and peace.

The pink ipe, also known as the pink lapacho or pink trumpet tree, is Pecario's national tree. The pink ipe is widely used as a lumber tree}}, ornamental tree}}, and honey plant in Pecario specifically and Mesothalassa more generally. Additionally, the tree's inner bark is sometimes used in indigenous communities to make an herbal tea, talacho, which is a traditional medicine for treating respiratory infections.

Several species of crop plant are associated with Pecario due to the fact that they were originally domesticated within the country. Potato and cassava, the fourth- and fifth-most produced staple crops}} globally, were both domesticated in Pecario between 8,000 BCE and 5,000 BCE; quinoa, coca, and common beans were all also domesticated within the country in the 3,000 BCE and 2,000 BCE. Accordingly, these crops are widely associated with Pecario. Additionally, coffee is also widely produced in Pecario making Pecario is a leading producer.

Metals and minerals

Pecario's national precious metal and gemstone are silver and emerald, respectively. The country is a major producer of both, as well as several other precious metals; silver has long played an important role in the art of Pecario's indigenous civilizations, while Pecarian emerald production emerged mostly in the 19th century and has particularly taken off in the last three decades.

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  A silver artifact of the Basáy culture.

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  An emerald mined in Pecario.

History & culture

A 1919 depiction of Patrià, also called Mother Pecario.

Main article: History of Aucuria

National personification

Patrià, also known as Mother Pecario (Iberic: Madre Pecariana) is the national personification of Pecario. She is variously used to symbolize the country; its government; its people; and its eight "guiding values" of liberty, equality, independence, justice, honor, purity, fraternity, and fidelity.

Personifications of Pecario as a woman begin to appear in the early 1700s, during the Iveric corregimiento period, the standardization of the symbolism around Patrià and her widespread use as an Pecarian national symbol occurs only in the 1830s.

Patrià is typically depicted wearing seated female wearing a laurel wreath and a white, red and dark green velvet tunic ; she is sometimes depicted as also wearing a wreath coffee leaves. Depending on circumstances, she is also variously depicted holding the Pecarian flag, a sword and a book of law (specifically labeled as Pecario's declaration of independence or the constitution).

In addition to Patrià, there are several types of individual regarded as unofficial representations of the country, a region thereof, a part of its history, or a part of its demography. These include Kapács, soldiers of ancient Tuachec Empire; Conquistador, Stillian explorer-soldiers who brought the region under Iberic rule; Banditos, early adventurers and slavers who settled the eastern part of Pecario; revolutionary militiamen during the Pecarian War of Independence and Locucho, horsemen who made their living on the grasslands of the highlands.

Pómatec I, Diego de Montega, Luis Miralba, and Alejandro Soria have all been described as Pecario Pater patriae.

Patres patriae

Among the first Pecarians to be granted the title of "pater patriae" were Luis Miralba and Alejandro Soria, the leading civilian and military figures, respectively, of the Pecarian Revolution. Miralba, born in 1712, was a lawyer, writer, philosopher, and politician who contributed significantly to the drafting of Pecario’s declaration of independence and first constitution, while actively advocating for the ratification of the Declaration of the Rights of the People. Miralba was subsequently elected as Pecario's first president, serving two terms as a member of the Federalist faction. During his presidency, Miralba played a key role in establishing the Pecarian government and pursued policies of limited government and support for agriculture. Soria, born in 1728, was appointed commander-in-chief of revolutionary forces in 1756 and became the principal war hero of Pecario's War of Independence. After Luis Miralba’s death, Soria became the leader of the Republican faction and was elected president of Pecario three times, in 1791, 1797, and 1802. During his presidency, Soria sought to develop Pecario’s manufacturing and commercial sectors by establishing a national bank and instituting tariffs.

The Stillian conquistador Diego de Montega, Pecario's first colonial governor, is also widely regarded as a pater patriae. A career soldier, Montega led the Iberic expedition to the Bay of Manamana in 1630, establishing Puerto Montega (and the colony of Nueva Stillia). In 1631, Montega was invited to Tawantisuyo by envoys of the quillapómac Pòmatec IV. On his way to Tawantisuyo, Montega also met envoys from the Hosco and Aymaro peoples, striking an agreement to assist them in a rebellion against Tuachec hegemony. This marked the beginning of the Iberic conquest of the Tuachec Empire, during which Montega’s conquistadors defeated both pro- and anti-Tuachec armies, sacked Tualcacán, and annexed the entire Tuachec Empire by 1650. Montega continued to serve as Grand Governor of what was now the Kingdom of Pecario until his assassination in 1645 by Sebastián de Salcázaro.

Later, as Pecarian identity increasingly incorporated a connection to the precolonial period due to concepts such as costumbrismo, indigenismo, and mestizo, prominent monarchs of the Tuachec Empire were retroactively recognized as Pecarian patres patriae. These include Huayna Cápac, the first quillapómac of the Tuachec Empire, and Pòmatec I, revered as both a conqueror and a reformer.

While this list is widely accepted as the “standard canon” of Pecarian patres patriae, each figure is subject to some degree of controversy. By far the most contentious is Montega, whose role in the "discovery" of Pecario has been extensively reevaluated in recent decades as academics, historians, and indigenous activists have highlighted the atrocities committed during the conquest of the Tuachec Empire and the colonial period. These include the brutal sacking of Tualcacán, the destruction of sacred and historic Tuachec sites, and the use of Alharun indigenous peoples as slave labor. Miralba’s reputation has suffered due to his philosophical and political compromises with the institution of slavery during his presidency, while Soria’s legacy has been tarnished by his bloody purges of loyalists who supported Iverica during Pecario's War of Independence. Huayna Cápac and Pòmatec I have also faced criticism, particularly from members of smaller indigenous groups, for their expansionist wars and use of forced relocation and resettlement as tools of control.

Other people

Saint Onamarija of Apvaizda, one of Aucuria's patron saints.

There are several figures from Pecario's history, both pre-colonial and post-colonial, who - while not regarded as patres patriae - are nonetheless remembered as historic figures who played an important or defining role in Pecarian history. This list includes, among others:

• Llóque Hanpaqu, the warrior-king under whom the Tuachecs peaked in power and importance inside the city-states Confederation of Mascuyo;
• Christiano Davegga, Stillian friar, he spent most of his life actively fighting slavery and the colonial abuse of indigenous peoples, especially by trying to convince the Pecarian court to adopt a more humane policy of colonization;
• Sister Esther Villalobos, a famous nun considered crucial in the philosophical development of life inside the indian reductions
• Andrés Manrrique, first corregidor of Pecario during the Iveric corregimiento period;
• Hernando de Vargas, explorer, ethnographer and cartographer known for his extensive expeditions in the uncharted territories of Pecario
• Juan Santos Pomatec, leader of the 1732 indigenous revolt against colonial rule;
• Agustin Peña, Francisco Javier Riba, Thiago Lagos, Nicolas Montes, and several other leading figures of the Pecarian War of Independence;
• Joaquín Moreno, a Pecarian merchant and the founder of Casa de los Gemas, San Luis' renowned emerald trade house;
• Amélie Dubois, a prominent Lysian-Pecarian historian and activist, is best known for her successful campaign to preserve San Luis' Lysian architectural heritage

Pecario has two patron saints - the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary and (Santa Emiliana de los Ríos. A member of the Dominican Order, Emiliana - born María Bacque - was known for her commitment to asceticism and for her religious visions.

Natural sites and buildings

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  The Guanamo geoglyphs are fragile pre-tuachec art.

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  Cùnchalan old Tuachec citadel.

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  The "lost city" of Valleluz is one the most famous Tuachec sites.

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  Santa Borbones Cathedral, Pecario's first, is known for its ornate decorations.

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  Fortaleza de la Costa in the city of San Luis.

Four famous Pecarian mountains: Pico del Alba, Yapuros, Vilcaruna, and Quilluna.

While Pecario is home to many natural wonders, it is perhaps most famous for its moutains and mountain ranges. There are one main mountain range located in Pecario: the Cordillera del Sol Mountains in the country's northern regions.

The valleys of the Cordillera were both the center of many indigenous Pecarian civilizations and a refuge for the soldiers of the early revolutionaries. The Cordillera is known for both their agricultural output, enabled by terrace farming, and their mineral wealth, consisting of vast reserves of gold, silver, copper, tin, and gemstones. They are also the source of several major Pecarian rivers, including the Río Brumoso, Río Huamaní, Río Frontera, Río Grande del Sol, Sayrì, Chakayacu and Allpamayu.

Two of the most iconic peaks of the Cordillera del Sol Mountains are Pico del Alba, which is the tallest mountain in the Cordillera, in Pecario and in the wurld at 9,554 metres (31,347 feet) and a visible landmark from Manamana, and Vilcaruna, rising 8,858 meters (29,0616 feet). Also of note is Quilluna, notable for its vividly-colored stripes of various clays, soils, sands, and stones..