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Russia is commonly thought of in terms of a bear.
In the minds of most, the animal that most comes to mind when the country is mentioned.
A large, hulking, plodding bear, perhaps slow to anger, but, once aroused, difficult to calm.
In the bloody history of that turbulent country, unfortunate undesirables were sometimes sewn into the skin of a dead bear to be subsequently devoured by a pack of ferocious dogs.
This sometimes for the sport of the Tsar.
The Colosseum of Rome, with its Christians and wild beasts providing sport for the emperor and spectators, had nothing on Russia when it came to savagery.
Actually, the official symbol of Russia, one depicted on certain flags, is that of a double-headed eagle.
It also appears on the reverse of some Russian coins.
As here:
Noble in concept, perhaps.
The official symbol of the USA is a bald-headed eagle, but it has only one head.
Examination of a map of Ukraine reveals a much more docile bird.
As here:
