Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[jennyj87]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I can't find the pearl. Where is it/are they?

Oops. meant to say two!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Like if a lion = royalty in heraldry then using a lion would make it obvious that you were kings or something. (Intentionally bad example.)

Obviously not something people could answer in detail as it would 'give away the game' so to speak. But then, I don't know the rules either.

There is probably some truth to this. I suspect that the most important thing to many of the designers was the symbolism rather then "rules," though many arms encompass both. Like I've said before, too, in American symbolism in general, one often sees a certain "freedom" from the rules.

And for what it's worth, it's very rare that a particular symbol always stands for a particular meaning (like lion = royalty). While royal arms often use lions, so do many other arms.

Originally Posted by Miriverite

We have a rather simplistic CoA =)

From the standpoint of good heraldic design, simpler is almost always better because it's easier to "read" and identify.

The sad thing is that our beloved lyre is not represented on the AXO CoA at all =(

As others have said, the lyrebird is there.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And for what it's worth, it's very rare that a particular symbol always stands for a particular meaning (like lion = royalty). While royal arms often use lions, so do many other arms.

True, as I said it was a bad example, but there are pretty strong traditional meanings to some symbols as well, even if there are alternative ones.

I was simply curious. I think CoAs are harder to discuss than badges because so much of them are ritual. We can't say "and the stars mean this and the lamp means that and the colors stand for something else entirely."

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I think CoAs are harder to discuss than badges because so much of them are ritual. We can't say "and the stars mean this and the lamp means that and the colors stand for something else entirely."

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.

Likewise, some badges have (or are) symbols that can't be explained. (Triangles? ) And there's a reason that some of us are a little unfamiliar with the idea that people in some orgs can put whatever gems they want to on badges.