Изображения парусных судов на печатях, знаменах и гербах казачьих сообществ XVIII—XIX вв

The article explores the semantics of images of sailing ships in the space of symbols and attributes of the Zaporozhian and Don Cossacks, as well as groups associated with their origin — Nekrasovtsy, Chernomortsy (Black Sea Cossacks) and Butkals (Transdanubian Zaporozhians). The study relies on a wide range of written and material resources, including the ones which are offered for scientific discussion for the first time. Due to the use of special methods of historical research and generalization of concrete historical material, some general and special features were identified in the experience of various Cossack communities in the depiction of sailing ships on seals, standards and emblems, both military and proprietary. The authors showed their evolution linked with the Cossacks seafaring culture, as well as the Christian traditions and its symbolism. Numerous examples from the field of sphragistics and heraldry show how images of a ship (boat) had moved into the heraldic space of Cossack foreman and Russian noble families of Cossack origin.