Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general/heraldic-charges

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Sun (heraldry)

Symbolic form used in heraldry

Sun (heraldry)

Symbolic form used in heraldry

charge

A representation of the sun is used as a heraldic charge. The most usual form, often called sun in splendour or in his glory, consists of a round disc with the features of a human face surrounded by twelve or sixteen rays alternating straight and wavy, which are often said to represent the light and heat of the sun.

It was used as a badge by Edward II of England, and was later adopted by Edward IV following the appearance of a parhelion or "sun dog" before his victory at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461. It also had significance in alchemy, and may be a symbol of the Roman deity Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun).

It is a common charge in the heraldry of many countries, regions and cities: e.g. the bearings of Armstrong family in Canada; the Sun in Splendour appears superimposed on the Cross of St. George and behind the White Rose of York on the flag of the West Riding of Yorkshire; and on the arms of Banbury Town Council, England. It also often appears as a rising sun as in the arms of East Devon District Council, England, and as a demi sun as in the coat of Don McLean Aitchison, Canada.

According to historian Diego Abad de Santillán, the Sun of May represents Inti, the Incan god of the sun, and thereby Inca culture.{{cite book| last = Abad de Santillán| first = Diego |author-link= Diego Abad de Santillán| title = Historia Argentina| year = 1965| publisher = Buenos Aires: TEA (Tipográfica Editora Argentina)}} It appears as a heraldic sun in the national flags of Argentina (1818) and Uruguay (1828) and Ecuador (1860), in the flags and shields of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (1836–1839) and its component the Republic of South Peru, in the flag of Peru of 1822–1825, and in the current flag of the Peruvian Navy (1821).

Examples

Sun in splendour, with face

Image:Blason famille fr Amelot.svg| Image:Flag_of_Argentina.svg| Image:Flag of the San Juan Province.svg| Image:Blason Arraincourt 57.svg| Image:Blason ville fr Auzeville-Tolosane (Haute-Garonne).svg| Image:Basse terre blason.png| Image:Blason ville-fr Bassurels (Lozère).svg| Image:Blason Creisset.svg| Image:CUB-cuba.png| Image:Blason ville fr Dole (Jura).svg| Image:Escudo de Ecija.svg| Image:CHE Ennetburgen COA.svg| Image:Blason ville fr Fontaines-Saint-Martin (Rhône).svg| Image:Wappen Kaenerkinden.png| Image:Kampod_r.gif| Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Khmelnytskyi_Oblast.svg| Image:Loukov znak.png| Image:Blason Mende.svg| File:Flag of Peru (1822).svg| File:Philippines Flag Original.svg| Image:Wappen at st gilgen.png| Image:Escut del Soleràs.svg| Image:POL województwo tarnopolskie II RP COA.svg| Image:Flag_of_Uruguay.svg| Image:Vedomice znak.jpg| Image:Věžky PR znak.png| Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Vinnytsa_Oblast.svg| Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Zhytomyr_Oblast.svg|

Sun in splendour, without face

Straight and wavy rays

Image:Escudo de Archena.svg| Image:CHE Arosa COA.svg| Image:Blason ville fr Barbâtre (Vendée).svg| Image:Blason ville fr La Baule-Escoublac (Loire-Atlantique).svg| File:Flag of Colorado Party (Uruguay).svg|

Straight rays ([[mullet (heraldry)|mullet]])

File:Escudo de Beriáin.svg| File:DEU Dobel COA.svg| File:Escudo de Galar.svg| File:Flag of Greek Macedonia.svg| File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg| File:Flag of Tibet.svg| File:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg|alt=| File:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg|alt=|

Wavy rays ([[estoile]])

File:Göteborg stift vapen.svg| File:Escut Jekabpils rajonas.jpg| File:Flag of Kyrgyzstan (1992–2023).svg|alt=|

Without rays ([[roundel]])

File:Australian Aboriginal Flag.svg| Image:Flag_of_Japan.svg| Image:Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg|

Other forms

File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg| File:Coat of arms of Latvia.svg| File:Flag_of_North_Macedonia.svg| File:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg| File:Naval Jack of the Philippines.svg| Image:Seal of the First Philippine Republic.svg| File:Flag of South Peru.svg| File:Flag of Szekely Land.svg| Image:Armorial Bearings of British Airways.svg|

References

fr:Liste des meubles héraldiques#Soleil

References

  1. badge]] to Richard (Charles Fox-Davies, ''A Complete Guide to Heraldry'', 1909, p. 468).
  2. [http://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglosss.htm#Sun James Parker, ''A glossary of terms used in heraldry'']. Accessed 13 December 2009
  3. [https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/vxt-dvs8.html#suninsplendour Dictionary of Vexillology]. Accessed 13 December 2009
  4. Fox-Davies, A.C., (1969) ''A complete guide to heraldry.'' Aylesbury: Thomas Nelson and Sons. p. 222.
  5. [http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/7057128/Edward-IV-and-the-Alchemists Encyclopædia Britannica: Edward IV and the Alchemists]{{Dead link. (June 2024. Accessed 13 December 2009.)
  6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20010630033912/http://www.kickback.btinternet.co.uk/History.and.Archaeology/Banbury/Faith/Trail.html Banbury Faith Trail]. Accessed 13 December 2009
  7. "The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada".
  8. "CIVIC HERALDRY OF ENGLAND AND WALES - THAMES VALLEY AND CHILTERNS".
  9. "CORNWALL AND WESSEX AREA".
  10. "The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

heraldic-charges sun sol-invictus solar-symbols
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Sun (heraldry) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report