Heraldry

[jpskewedthrone]

So over the weekend, while I was in Balticon, my partner picked up a fake shield for us to use to decorate the roof. He thought it was cool and immediately wanted to know what the symbols on the shield meant. He said this in such a way that it was obvious he thought that, since I write fantasy, I MUST know everything there is to know about heraldry.

Ha, ha, I said. Heraldry is much more complicated than that.

So this morning I did a little minimal research into the symbols on this particular shield. It contains three bees and an inverted chevron. I had no clue. But it appears that the bees represent "efficient industry" (which is probably a good way to describe me since I tend to get lots of stuff done and we're both busy, busy, busy) and the chevron appears to mean "protection" or "builders or others who have accomplished a work of faithful service." I'd have to go with the builders interpretation for me, referencing the writing.

In any case, I thought I'd share the first few pages I found in the very quick search I did. In case you were interested. If you've found some better pages, feel free to share!

And just FYI, I now have the incredible urge to spend my entire morning designing shields for my world using heraldry, instead of writing. *grin*

The first page I found of interest. A good overview of heraldry in general, with reference links.

The second page that has all of the definitions of the symbols and such in a nice, easy-to-read format.

Comments

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

This page: http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/education.html has a lot of links you might find interesting. A couple are SCA specific and will be of no interest, but several are about heraldry in general. The "ordinary" will have lists of heraldic devices that are "owned" by specific people. Some of the heralds in the SCA are acknowledged experts in the field, so their articles should be handy for you.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Ooo, cool! Thanks for the link!

[zhai.livejournal.com]

Heraldry is awesome. You can pick up The Oxford Guide to Heraldry for about ten bucks now off of Amazon -- when I ordered it back in the 90s you could only get it hardcover and for $50+.

The chevron means protection, but yeah, it is an honorary that was given to people -- do service to the crown and you could get a chevron added to your arms, the way you could also get bearers, ornaments, etc (but those would be on the outside). 'Course it differs depending on the country and the era. But it's cool stuff.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Definitely . . . but I resisted the urge to spend time designing stuff for my world and wrote instead. *grin*

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Would you care for a larger can for all these worms you've just released, or should I just roll the dumpster up to the front door?

You have no idea what theory trail you just started me exploring: The equivalent heraldic symbology used in or by nonterrestrial cultures as a basis for constructing an intercultural dictionary. Dammit, I have a book to write, don't do this to me!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Theory trails are good. I resisted though. Did you?

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Such a question.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And where is the heraldic shield for Sheeplandia, hmm?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

The Sheeplandia shield has a green background with two inverted chevrons halfway down, trees above and sheep beneath.

An interesting subject

[vespican.livejournal.com]

To me, this is a subject that I could get lost in, and never get anything else done. A little knowledge in this area might be worthwhile for writers of the fantasy or science fiction persuasion. Why? I think that eventually one would want to present certain symbologies for the people/creatures and worlds he/she has created. It may extend far beyond the traditional use of shields or coats of arms. In my case, I've created an additional world, quite a bit like the world we know, but there are differences as well as parallels. Therefore, I need to have some idea of the flags of the various nations, and perhaps in the long run, even ideas of what various uniforms, etc, look like. Even if the detailed description of these items never make it into the story(s), I feel that I should know about them. Similarly as I write those portions of the story that take place in this world, I need to know and understand the various uniforms of the time. If, for any other reason, so that those who are always looking for mistakes don't find any in my writing. As an example, I need to know that at the time my story takes place, that a British Navy Master and Commander wore a single plain eppaulette on his left shoulder.
So I think that one who writes historical fiction might want to study sources such as you have pointed out, while those into the fantasy end of things might want to use them as a basis for developing the heraldry of the world(s) we create.
Dave

Re: An interesting subject

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

All so true, which is why I had to do research to answer the questions. I've got a much bigger world I'm playing with for the current series, so I may have to spend a little time with this heraldry stuff, just to flesh things out.

[jeanhuets.livejournal.com]

This is the sort of thing that can truly derail "the best laid plans..." But since you asked...
Here's a great site heraldica and pimbley's dictionary of heraldry (http://www.digiserve.com/heraldry/pimbley.htm).
And since you insist on pursuing this hobby... here's a fun tangent: book of emblems (http://www.mun.ca/alciato/index.html) (http://www.heraldica.org/topics/) ()

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Oooo! Cool links! Thanks!

[ruthannereid.livejournal.com]

Okay, that is seriously cool. *laughs* Design away! I'm sure I'm not the only avid reader who'd love to see what you come up with. :D

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Can anyone say time suck? But I've resisted. I have this novel I need to finish writing in the next week. That's taking priority over pretty much everything.

[steve-buchheit.livejournal.com]

Bees are also symbols of wealth (and in gratuitously rich). Three bees in a triangle, three golden bees are also used as symbols to a secret society, whose member would carry such golden bees and show them as passports. Unfortunately the name of the society escapes me at the moment, but it was European, and vaguely contemporary to freemasonry if I remember correctly.