Quote:
Originally posted by Tom Earp
I may get some disagreements on this, but the LXA Coat of Arms is the most true to the Heraldict of any that I have ever seen!
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Tom,
You're correct... the Lambda Chi Alpha coat of arms is probably the most heraldically correct of all the fraternity and sorority coat of arms. Below is the heraldic blazon (the description of the coat of arms in the traditional language of heraldry, which is derived on Old English and French) of Lambda Chi Alpha:
Escutcheon (shield): Quarterly, on the first vert, a lighted Greek lamp or. On the second or, an open book proper, bearing on its face the letters Chi (
C), Omicron (
O), Alpha (
A) Zeta (
Z) On the third, sable, a balance or. On the fourth, vert, a pair of clasped hands argent, between three mullets in chevron or. Over all an inescutcheon argent, a lion rampant holding a white rose slipped proper.
Behind the escutcheon a pair of swords in saltire, points downward, argent, pommels, and hilts or. Mantling vert, lined, or. Encircling the escutcheon a riband purpure, edged argent, bearing the Greek motto
Calepa Ta Kala (Chalepa Ta Kala – Naught Without Work) surrounded by an olive wreath which bears pendant the badge of the brotherhood proper. Below the escutcheon a scroll vert, with the Latin motto
Vir Quisque Vir (Every Man A Man) or.
Crest: Issuant from a crown celestial or, ensigning a gentleman's helmet proper, a crucicrescent rayonne or, Latin motto
Per Crucem Crescens (Growth through the Cross) or on a scroll vert.
Heraldic colors (called 'tinctures') :
vert - green
gules - red
argent - silver (white used sometimes)
sable - black
or - gold (sometimes yellow is used)
purpure - purple (violet)
proper - in the natural colors
Heraldic terminology:
mullets - stars
inescutcheon - small shield within the main shield
in saltire - crossed in an "X"
rayonne = with rays extending
lion rampant - a lion standing on its hind legs, as if to attack.
dexter = right (actually, the wearer's right)
sinister = left (actually, the wearer's left)
In traditional heraldry, the "rule of tincture" states that metals (the tinctures argent and or) should not be next to metals, nor colors next to colors; a rule designed to make the arms easily identifiable in the battlefield (the original purpose of the coat of arms). This rule is not strictly followed, as varying shades of the tinctures may also be used in the design of a coat-of arms.
Compare the Lambda Chi blazon to the one describing Alpha Sigma Phi's coat of arms:
Crest: On a wreath argent and sable, a phoenix rising or.
Escutcheon: Per cross argent and or, on a bend sable, three mullets or, all within a diminutive of a border or. On sinister chief a book open argent, pen and five hieroglyphics or, on dexter base a laurel wreath or, a Greek column minus capital argent, an ancient lamp or with rays sable.
Scroll: On a ribbon or, "18 Causa : Latet : Vis : Est : Notissima 45" sable.
diminutive - a small border, usually on the edge of the shield (escutcheon)
sinister chief - upper (wearer's) left
dexter chief - lower (wearer's right)
Technically, the Alpha Sigma Phi coat of arms wouldn't work if you follow the heraldic 'rule of tincture'. Likewise, the Lambda Chi coat of arms as designed contains heraldic items generally reserved for higher-ranking peers or royalty, for example, the garter encircling the shield is only seen on royal arms and on those who have earned the Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in Great Britain (it's outranked only by the Victoria Cross, the British equivalent of the Medal of Honor.)
Honi soit qui mal y pense (shamed be he who thinks evil of it) -- the motto of the Order of the Garter.