Whale (heraldic animal)

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Two whales as shield holders in the coat of arms of Zaanstad , North Holland

The whale is one of the largest marine mammals, an emblem of a special kind.

Two heraldic forms are represented in and on the coat of arms . One species is modeled on the baleen whale ( blue whale ). The other heraldic animal species is the dolphin from the order of the toothed whales . The latter is heraldically counted among the fish . In heraldry , both groups of heraldic animals can be clearly distinguished.

whale

The blue and sperm whales can appear in heraldry in the coat of arms , but also as shield holders . Your representation is particularly impressive with the breathing air fountain. The caudal fin, also known as the fluke, is particularly emphasized. Black, blue or silver animals predominate. The fins are not highlighted by any other coloring ( tinging ).

Dolphin

Talking coat of arms of Count Dolfin ("Conte Delfin"), old patrician family of Venice or Lombard-Venetian noble family who were in the service of the Austrian Empire: three golden dolphins on a blue background, 19th century graphic
The Dauphin and later French King Louis XI. with dolphin as heraldic animal and crest, around 1450 (Hyghalmen Scroll, Herald's College Manuscript )

This is different with the heraldic animal dolphin . Here these fins are often colored differently as reinforcement . The dolphin is also referred to as guinea pig in the description of the coat of arms . Dunkirk (Dunkerque) has one in its coat of arms. If the animal's mouth is closed, eyes, ears, beard and comb are colored differently, this is emblazoned with life . With its mouth open in monochrome representation, it is called stale .

A special feature is the coat of arms of the Dauphins of France . Dauphin coats of arms show the dolphin as a heraldic animal and in the crown belonging to this nobility there were dolphins as crown bars, whose tails merged into the lily in the middle of the crown. It is known as the dolphin crown .

meaning

In heraldry / iconography the whale is a symbol / symbol for the devil and its open mouth is considered the "gate to hell". In some coats of arms, however, it should also represent the reference to earlier whaling.

In heraldry / iconography, the dolphin is a symbol for:

  • Willingness to help and work z. B. a gender sequence. It can thus be an indication of care professions.
  • Rescue, security, security z. B. from an evil that threatened the family. The dolphin is considered to be the "savior for castaways" and is also used in Christian symbols for Christ, the "soul savior".
  • The feminine par excellence: The Greek word Delphis for dolphin is related to Delphys , which means “womb”, “womb” and “womb”.
  • Friendship (the tales of friendship between a boy and a dolphin are legendary).
  • Speed ​​(and in contrast: "Dolphin with anchor" = slowness)

Examples

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Walter Leonhard : The great book of heraldic art. Development, elements, motifs, design. Callwey, Munich 1976, ISBN 3-7667-0335-8 .
  2. ^ Johann Josef Schindler: Wapen Gallery of the Higher Nobility of the Entire Provinces of the Austrian Imperial State , Volume 6, Vienna 1836. ( digitized version ), Der Oesterreich Beobachter , 1838, p. 1326.
  3. ↑ Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1984.
  4. ^ Milan boys : Heraldica. Per čtenáře od 12 let. Albatros, Praha 1986 (German: Heraldik. Edited edition. Ibid 1987).

Web links

Commons : Whale in Heraldry  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Dolphin in Heraldry  - collection of images, videos and audio files