The elephant in the City

This elephant sits atop a pole in Broadgate, Coventry's city centre square, its location shown on the extra. The elephant is a key symbol of the City, appearing on the coat of arms. Coventry City's mascot is Sky Blue Sam, a blue fluffy elephant.

The origins of this odd choice of an emblematic creature for a city in the English midlands are as follows:

"Animals were often treated as religious symbols and the elephant is seen, not only as a beast so strong that he can carry a tower - Coventry's castle - full of armed men, but also as a symbol of Christ's redemption of the human race. 


"The animal, according to one story, is supposed to sleep standing, leaning against a tree. Hunters sever the trunk, and he falls helpless to the ground, until a small elephant approaches and pulls him up with his trunk. This was seen in medieval times as the type of fall of Adam and Eve and of Christ's redemption of the human race.


"The elephant’s enemy was said to be the dragon and Coventry is also said by some to be the birthplace of St. George, who slew the dragon."