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

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.