Double Cross on Three Hills

A Byzantine double cross on three hills — the Tatra, the Fatra, and the Mátra — which form part of the Slovak coat of arms and have been a symbol of the Slovak nation since the sixteenth century. The design is set against a background of stylised rocks, representing the stability and strength of the state. The upper horizontal arm is said to represent secular power, and the lower arm the ecclesiastical authority of the Byzantine emperors.

The Byzantine double cross on three hills derives from medieval symbols of rule and became a central emblem of Slovak identity during the national movements of the 19th century. The three hills are traditionally linked to the Tatra, Fatra and Matra mountain ranges, the last of which now lies in Hungary — a reminder of the historic Kingdom of Hungary, of which Slovakia was long part. The double cross itself recalls the Byzantine mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to the region in the 9th century, and has been part of Slovakia's state coat of arms since independence in 1993.