Heraldic animal

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Eagle and lion in the coat of arms of Otto IV as Holy Roman Emperor

Heraldic animal is a type of animal that is represented in a coat of arms as a common figure , as a shield holder or as a helmet ornament . The term heraldic animal is not used by heraldists , but is very popular with laypeople.

The common character heraldic animal

Spider web in the coat of arms of Aasiaat (spiders)

All animals of the natural animal kingdom and animals from the mythical world ( unicorn , dragon , griffin, etc.) can be used in the coat of arms . The modification of known living beings through seemingly absurd changes has enriched heraldry. For example, mammals with fish tails ( sea ​​lions ) or animals with wings (winged bulls ) that are not made for flying are special features.

With a few exceptions, the animals are stylized in the coat of arms. The animals in particular, which found their place on shields in the early days of heraldry, have been adapted to fashion over the centuries, and their representation is artistically permeated. The historian can assign the type of representation to the respective epoch. Most heraldic animals have a privileged position in the shield. Many heraldic animals look to the right (from the point of view of the shield-bearer) and lions are shown primarily rising. This simplifies the description of the coat of arms ( blazon ), because the basic positions do not need to be mentioned. The heraldic animals can be growing, standing at the crack, crowned or even capped (armor over the head). Many terms aptly explain the appearance, position and color in short form.

Many heraldic animals only take parts such as the head, wings, feet and front part. These are treated like the whole animal. The description of the reinforcement makes the slight difference between two apparently identical coats of arms.

Heraldic animals remain a mean figure even if they touch the edge of the shield or a dividing line in the shield.

Popular heraldic animals are eagles , lions , leopards and mythical animals .

The reptiles are to be counted among the less common animals. Reptiles are a common figure in heraldry as a heraldic animal. All kinds of lizards, such as crocodiles, lizards and salamanders, as well as snakes and turtles, can be found in the coats of arms and are the most important representatives. Each of these animal species has its own rules for the representation in shield or coat of arms, or as a shield holder.

  • Insects: Insects are also included among the less common animals. See main article bees and ants . For the other insects see under common figure, section insects .

Heraldic animal with fish tail

In the case of many heraldic animals, the rear part is replaced by a fish tail. This doubles the possibilities in or above the coat of arms. There are no limits to your imagination. A church ceiling shows what is possible. In the church of St. Martin Zillis many mythical creatures , which are also used in heraldry, are depicted on the ceiling . The special feature is the very extensive representation of heraldic animals with a fish tail. For example, lion, boar, unicorn, billy goat, ram and wolf with fish tails are depicted. Even an elephant is represented like this. In heraldry, this is emblazoned with fish-tailed . Human beings also belong to it. Examples are Triton and the Melusine , also known as the mermaid .

application

While in heraldry the representation elements in the shield are basically arbitrary, i.e. can be freely chosen by the coat of arms owner, there has been a tendency to associate a certain symbolism with a common figure since the early days of heraldry.

In heraldry - as far as possible - talking coats of arms are welcome. This means that the coat of arms designers should definitely follow the name of the coat of arms owner when designing the coat of arms. This striving can also produce many animal motifs, for example in family names such as “deer”, “fisherman”, “boar” etc.

Use of the heraldic animals in the Prussian coat of arms

In the large coat of arms of the German emperors as kings of Prussia and in the middle coat of arms, these heraldic animals are shown in the fields (without gems and upper coat of arms ):

  • Large coat of arms of the German emperors as kings of Prussia
  • middle coat of arms Wilhelm II as King of Prussia
    • Adler six times
    • Leo five times
    • Horse twice
    • Grab once.

The scattered individual states show in the compilation in the Prussian coat of arms only the frequency of the chosen heraldic animals and thus document their popularity.

Heraldic animals of the German states

Heraldic animals are used in most of the coats of arms of the German states .

In Bavaria , Bremen and Hamburg two lions, in Baden-Württemberg deer and griffin are part of the coat of arms as shield holders .

Heraldic animals of the Austrian countries

Heraldic animals of the Swiss cantons

See also

literature

  1. ^ Ernst Murbach: Zillis. The Romanesque picture ceiling of the Church of St. Martin . Photographed and edited by Peter Heman. Atlantis-Verlag, Zurich et al. 1967.

Web links

Commons : Animals in Heraldry  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Heraldic animal  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations