Sun (heraldry)
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 wavy and straight.[2][3] The alternating straight and wavy rays are often said to represent the light and heat of the sun respectively.[4]
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.[3][5] It also had significance in alchemy, and may be a symbol of the Roman deity Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun).[6]
It is a common charge in the heraldry of many countries, regions and cities: e.g. the bearings of Armstrong, Canada; the Sun in Splendour appears superimposed on the Cross of St. George and behind the White Rose of York on the flag of 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 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.<ref>{{cite book| last = Abad de Santillán| first = Diego
Examples
- Sun in splendour, with face
Arms of Amelot family
Flag of Argentina
Arms of Arraincourt
Arms of Auzeville-Tolosane
Arms of Basse-Terre
Arms of Bassurels
Arms of Creisset
Arms of Cuba (Portugal)
Arms of Dole (Jura)
Arms of Écija
Arms of Ennetbürgen
Arms of Fontaines-Saint-Martin
Arms of Känerkinden
Arms of Kamianets-Podilsky
Arms of Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Arms of Loukov
Arms of Mende
1822 Flag of Peru
Flag of the Philippines (1899-1901)
Arms of Sankt Gilgen
Arms of El Soleràs
Arms of Tarnopol Voivodeship
Flag of Uruguay
Arms of Vědomice
Arms of Věžky
Arms of Vinnytsia Oblast
Arms of Zhytomyr Oblast
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- Sun in splendour, without face
Arms of Archena
Arms of Arosa
Arms of Barbâtre
Arms of La Baule-Escoublac
Flag of the Colorado Party, in the Uruguayan Civil War
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- Straight rays (mullet)
Arms of Beriáin
Arms of Dobel
Arms of Galar
Flag of Macedonia (Greece) (Vergina Sun)
Flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Flag of Tibet
- Wavy rays (estoile)
Arms of the Diocese of Gothenburg
Arms of Jēkabpils District
Flag of Kazakhstan
Flag of Kyrgyzstan
- Without rays (roundel)
Australian Aboriginal Flag
Flag of Japan
Flag of Bangladesh
- Other forms
Naval Ensign of Japan
Coat of arms of Latvia
Flag of North Macedonia
Flag of the Philippines
Naval Jack of the Philippines
Emblem of the Philippines
Flag of the Székelys, depicting a napcsillag ('sun–star')
Coat of arms of British Airways
See also
- Solar symbol
- Splendor Solis
References
- ↑ English heraldic tradition of the early modern period associates the star and crescent design with Richard, with his victory over Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus in 1192, and with the arms of Portsmouth (Francis Wise A Letter to Dr Mead Concerning Some Antiquities in Berkshire, 1738, p. 18). Heraldic tradition also attributes a star-and-crescent badge to Richard (Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry, 1909, p. 468).
- ↑ James Parker, A glossary of terms used in heraldry. Accessed 13 December 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dictionary of Vexillology. Accessed 13 December 2009
- ↑ Fox-Davies, A.C., (1969) A complete guide to heraldry. Aylesbury: Thomas Nelson and Sons. p. 222.
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica: Edward IV and the Alchemists. Accessed 13 December 2009
- ↑ Banbury Faith Trail. Accessed 13 December 2009
fr:Liste des meubles héraldiques#Soleil
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