The coat of arms of Siena is called the "Balzana", which in heraldry means truncated shield, that is divided horizontally into two equal parts, one upper and one lower. In Italy, the Balzana was the badge of the Ghibellines. The colors are those of the smoke that rose from a sacrificial altar that Aschio and Senio had prepared to thank the Gods for having escaped their death. Furthermore, the horses with which the two had fled from Rome were, needless to say, one white and one black.


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