COAT OF ARMS, NAME AND PATRONS OF THE TOWN
THE COAT OF ARMS
The original coat of arms of the town was derived from the family arms of the Schlik. It was quartered with a central escutcheon.
The escutcheon displayed the original Schlik emblem – in a silver field a blue column crowned in gold with a golden base, flanked by two red lions.
The first and third quarters showed the arms of Holíč (Weisskirchen), while the second and fourth displayed the arms of the County of Bassano.
When the Schlik granted the arms to the town, the chevron in the third quarter was replaced by the mining symbol – crossed hammer and pick. Noble heraldic elements such as helmet and mantling were removed and replaced by two supporters: Saint Joachim and Saint Anne.
Saint Joachim is the patron of the town and Saint Anne the patroness of miners. They wear blue and red garments arranged in reverse colours.
This version of the arms was used from 6 January 1520 until 1546. After the confiscation of the Schlik estates, the family elements were removed.
The central shield now bears a silver bar in a red field with crossed silver mining tools with golden handles. The first and fourth quarters show the Bohemian double-tailed lion, and the second and third display a golden mining tower between silver mountains beneath a blue sky, approached by a miner.
Saint Joachim stands on the right as supporter, Saint Anne on the left.
THE NAME OF THE TOWN
Saint Joachim was chosen deliberately. In neighbouring Saxony there were already mining towns dedicated to members of the Holy Family: Annaberg, Marienberg and Josefstadt (Jöhstadt). The father of the Virgin Mary was missing from this symbolic group.
The original settlement was called Konradsgrün, after Conrad of Wohlsburg. The new mining settlement was simply named Thal – Valley.
Upon its elevation to town status and dedication to Saint Joachim, it became St. Joachimsthal – the Valley of Saint Joachim.
During the Second World War the name was changed to Radiumbad St. Joachimsthal. After 1948 ecclesiastical elements were removed from municipal names, and the shortened form Jáchymov was adopted.
PATRONS AND PROTECTORS
Saint Joachim
Saint Joachim, according to tradition, was the father of the Virgin Mary and husband of Saint Anne. His story is known from the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James.
He was said to have fasted for forty days in the desert after being refused the offering in the Temple because he had no children. An angel announced that he would have a daughter, Mary.
His feast, originally celebrated on 16 August, has since the decision of Pope Gregory XIII been celebrated together with Saint Anne on 26 July. He is the patron of married couples, carpenters and linen merchants.
Saint Anne
Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, is venerated in both Eastern and Western Christianity. Her cult was promoted especially by monastic orders.
She is patroness of mothers, marriage, childbirth and miners, as well as many crafts. She is also regarded as protector of Florence, Québec, Naples, Innsbruck and Brittany.
