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Exploring the World of Heraldry

This quiz explores key concepts and historical aspects of heraldry, including notable works, identification systems, and variations in designs.

#Heraldry #History #Art #Identification #Coat of Arms #Medieval Studies

1 The focus of modern heraldry is the armorial achievement, or the ________, the central element of which is the escutcheon[16] or shield.

2 The first work of heraldic jurisprudence, De Insigniis et Armiis, was written in the 1350s by Bartolus de Saxoferrato, a professor of law at the ________.

3 Since heraldry is essentially a system of identification, the most important convention of heraldry is the ________.

4 Apart from the ordinaries, the most frequent charges are the ________—with its hundreds of variations—and the lion and eagle.

5 The field of a ________ in heraldry can be divided into more than one tincture, as can the various heraldic charges.

6 The variations of partition lines can be wavy, indented, embattled, engrailed, nebuly, or made into myriad other forms; see ________.

7 Dragons, ________, unicorns, griffins, and more exotic monsters appear as charges and as supporters.

8 Heraldry aficionados participate in the ________, medieval revivals, micronationalism, et cetera.

9 The rules and terminology differ from country to country; indeed several national styles had developed by the end of the ________, but there are some aspects that carry over internationally.

10 Some of the oldest serekhs consist of a striped or cross-hatched box, representing a palace or city, with a crane, ________, or other animal drawn standing on top.

💡 Interesting Facts

  • many slogans and several mottoes currently used in heraldry originated as war cries or battle cries.
  • the triskelion in MacLeod heraldry (pictured) originates from a mistaken belief that the clan's founder, Leod, was a son of a king of Mann.
  • the BBC coat of arms was adopted in 1927 and uses heraldic symbols to depict the various qualities of broadcasting.
  • the coat of arms of Greenland depicts a polar bear raising its left forepaw, breaking with the heraldic tradition of showing the right forepaw raised, because polar bears are left-handed.
  • it has been claimed that Clan Schaw descends from cup bearers to the Scots kings Alexander II or Alexander III; and that the clan's heraldry (pictured) alludes to the office of cup bearer.
  • Sir Peter Lely, the most popular portrait artist in England in the mid 1600s, was born Pieter van der Faes, and is reputed to have adopted the surname "Lely" from a heraldic lily on the gable of the house of his father's birth.
  • Islay Herald Don Pottinger became interested in heraldry when commissioned to paint a portrait of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.
  • Emily Helen Butterfield was Michigan's first licensed female architect, and designed many college fraternity and sorority crests thanks to her interest in heraldry.
  • Johannes Rietstap was the founder of modern heraldic theory in The Netherlands.
  • Arthur Bliss's first major work for orchestra, A Colour Symphony, depicts in music the heraldic significance of the colours purple, red, blue and green, and was dedicated to the conductor Adrian Boult.
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