- This article is about a Carinthian historical symbol. For other uses of the term black panther, see black panther (disambiguation).
Black panther (Slovene črni panter) is a Carinthian historical symbol which represents a symbolized black panther. As a heraldic symbol, it first appeared around 1160 in the coat of arms of the Carinthian Duke Hermann Spanheim as well as of the Styrian Margrave Ottokar III. In this region it was most frequently imaged on various monuments and tombstones. It originates from ancient Noricum. Black panther was regarded as deadly enemy of a dragon in ancient times and symbolizes an age-old narrative about battle between forces of light and darkness.
