- Sun of May
The Sun of May (Spanish: "Sol de Mayo") is one of the national emblems of
Argentina andUruguay , and it is featured on the countries' flags. It is a representation of theInca sun godInti . The sun, called theSun of May , is a replica of an engraving on the first Argentine coin, approved in 1813, whose value was eight "escudos" (one Spanish dollar). It has 16 straight and 16 waved sunbeams.In 1978 the sun colour was specified to be golden yellow ("amarillo oro"), to have an inner diameter of 10 cm, and an outer diameter of 25 cm (the diameter of the sun equals the height of the white stripe. The sun's face is of its height). It features 32 rays, 16 undulated and 16 straight, in alternation and from 1978 it must be embroidered in the "Official Ceremonial Flag".
The specification "of May" is a reference to the
May Revolution which took place in the week from the 18th to the25th of May ,1810 , which marked the beginning of independence fromSpain of the countries that then formed theViceroyalty of the Río de la Plata .
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