Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Miriverite

Alpha Chi Omega
We have a rather simplistic CoA =)



In both AXO and AKPsi, our badges are not found anywhere on the CoA. There are some symbols, but I feel they are relatively straightforward. The sad thing is that our beloved lyre is not represented on the AXO CoA at all =(

It looks like the crest (right word?) over the coat of arms itself is kind of a stylized lyre to me!

[IrishLake]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It looks like the crest (right word?) over the coat of arms itself is kind of a stylized lyre to me!

I thought the same thing!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

I thought the same thing!

It also makes me go back and forth on the bird being an eagle or other raptor and being a peacock.

[SWTXBelle]

It's not a lyre bird?

[mandyk01]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It also makes me go back and forth on the bird being an eagle or other raptor and being a peacock.

It is a lyre bird, which is similar to a peacock but the feathers are more sparse.

The three stars relate to the three strings of the lyre in ritual so I see the lyre when I look at the COA.

[AZTheta]

This thread is fah-bu-lous.

[Drolefille]

I don't know SWTXBelle, but it would make sense both in looks and for the name

[Gusteau]

I think a great example of the heraldry norm =/= fraternal significance can be found in this 1930 article L.G. Balfour wrote regarding the Delta Chi CoA (found here: http://www.deltachi.org/quarterly/su...all_03.pdf.pdf). Balfour talks a lot about heraldry, and its all actually great information, but his discussion of our CoA, while interesting, has almost nothing to do with the Ritual significance of the arms. Of course non-members couldn't compare, but it's a decent article regardless.

Also, I commented in another thread that the open meaning of our CoA (that is, the marriage of two families) was so comprehensive that I was surprised to learn there could be any more to it!

[MysticCat]

Thanks for posting that article, Gusteau, and thanks to you and porcupile for all the information you've provided.

I'm wondering if Vito can tell us more about Psi U's practice of arms for each chapter.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

They can be, but not necessarily. As noted above, some coats of arms have "open" meanings and secret meanings. I mean, there are some coats of arms that have been posted that I know (at least some) of the symbolism of, even though the members who posted them didn't give an explanation. There are parts of those coats of arms that the GLOs in question have been open about. I haven't said anything yet to wait and see if a member offers some explanation.

Psi U would fall under that. The details of our CoA and the indivual CoAs on posted on our website. From what I understand the 2 Brothers who designed it tried as much as possible to follow the rules of heraldry. If people want I will discuss the meaning behind my CoA

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm wondering if Vito can tell us more about Psi U's practice of arms for each chapter.

No. Seriously, I actually don't know much. From my understanding it is a practice that used to be done by many organizations, but only a hand full still do. I think it might be because of the age of the Fraternity and some of our traditions. Psi U has always had a rather loose central organization compared to many fraternities. From what I understand different chapters ever had different colors before we adopted Garnet and Gold. My belief is the practice of individual CoAs is throwback to those days when chapters were more or less different organizations with the same badge. It allows the chapters to have a way to identify themselves, while still harking to the symbolism of the whole fraternity.

[rljenk]

It is fascinating to look at the Psi U's varied chapter arms. Here is a link to specific page on their website: http://www.psiu.org/about/heraldry.html Imagine if banners for each were displayed at a convention!

Some fraternities use a system of cadency marks to differentiate the arms of each chapter. A small charge, added to the honor point of the shield, customizes the arms. The first nine cadency marks are traditional. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadency for examples. If the system is extended further, a new emblem must be chosen for each new chapter.

Alpha Rho Chi (Architecture) uses such a system to identify each chapter. Here is a document that illustrates and explains APX's cadency marks: http://www.alpharhochi.org/attach/ca...de-Feb2010.pdf

I've read that Beta Theta Pi uses such a system (http://www.betathetapi.org/about-beta/history/heraldry), but I have not seen any examples of chapter arms. Can anyone share? Do other fraternities use a similar system?

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by rljenk

It is fascinating to look at the Psi U's varied chapter arms. Here is a link to specific page on their website: http://www.psiu.org/about/heraldry.html Imagine if banners for each were displayed at a convention!

I am so suggesting that.

[SthrnZeta]

The text on the bottom spells Zeta Tau Alpha and it contains a 5-pointed crown at the top and some other stuff and it's in our colors of turquoise blue and steel gray. I've always thought it looked like a more traditional coat of arms but some of you scholarly types can correct me if I'm wrong.



National Flag - just our coat of arms.










Corporate logo - you'll see a window like this in the IO building in Indy.





"Think Pink!" is now trademarked by ZTA

[Psi U MC Vito]

From the Psi Upsilon website

The Arms of the Fraternity are described in heraldic terms as a black shield bearing hands and letters of gold as in our badge, around which emblems run what is known as a double tressure, flory counter flory, of silver.
The 'double tressure' alludes to the 'tie that binds,' the secrets, ideals, and aims of the Fraternity.
The black 'shield' was chosen not only because it is more effective than any other hue in line engraving (which was the chief use of the coat-of-arms), but also because it is the background of the badge.
The 'crest' consists of an owl surmounting Roman fasces. The owl was assigned by the Greeks to Pallas Athena as an emblem of her supernatural wisdom, and by the Romans to Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom. The 'fasces,' which the owl surmounts, was a term given to a bundle of elm sticks or branches bound together with leather thongs or lashes, and containing an axe with its blade projecting from the side. These were carried by 'lectors' (public officials attending Roman magistrates), and were symbols of power.
The colors of the Fraternity are represented by a garnet ribbon on the dexter side of the shield, and by a gold one at the left, from which, united below the shield, depends by a ring the Psi Upsilon badge. The supporters are two silver griffins, typifying watchfulness and strength.

I would like to add 2 things to that. First off, the fasces have also been used historically to represent strength through unity, so that might have factored. Second, Garnet was chosen to honor our mother institution at Union College and Gold represents the badge of gold we wear.

[Gusteau]

So, I don't want to see this thread get buried...

The official Delta Chi Flag is a two pointed pennant bearing the letters delta and chi in buff on a red background with a buff border. MC, the vexillologist, could probably describe it in much more official terms than that.



(This picture makes the letters and border look more gold than they are, in person they are closer to true buff.)

This is the seal of the fraternity. Chapter seals will have the chapter name in place of the laurel leaves on the bottom of the seal.