caduceus
The caduceus is a traditional representation of a staff encircled by one or two snakes, sometimes with wings or a winged helmet on top. It symbolized the search for wisdom, power, diligence and peace.
GLOSSARY
caltrap / caltrop
The term `caltrap' comes from the French chausse-trape, and signifies a spiked weapon which was used thrown on the ground and used to disable horses. It signifies intelligence (cunning), as it allowed a soldier to best a more powerful foe, and warrior spirit.
canting arms
Appearing frequently in modern heraldry but dating back to the late Middle Ages, canting arms are designed by heralds so as to create a pun or rebus on the bearer's name. An instance was the coat of arms of the kingdom of Castille, which was charged with a castle.
carbuncle
The carbuncle was initially a term designating the ornamental knob at the centre of a shield, but later on, it was used as a name for a red precious stone, which frequently appeared as a charge. It symbolized honour, grace, comfort and joy.
cat
Although not as frequently encountered as the lion or the other large predatory animals, the cat held an important position in medieval thought and heraldry. It symbolized vigilance, warrior spirit and courage.
cat (gentle)
The cat is sacred to the ancient Egyptian protector goddess Bast, or Bastet, who is often represented as a woman with the head of a domesticated cat. Playful and affectionate yet a fierce predator at heart, Bast personifies the cat's gentle and mean qualities. Ancient Egyptians valued cats for their ability to kill mice and other vermin, thereby protecting crops and preventing the spread of disease. The cat is also sacred to Freya, the Old Norse goddess of fertility, beauty, love, and war. Freya rides a chariot pulled by two large cats given to her by the god Thor. With the dawn of the Christian era, through the European Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, the church was keen to erase all traces of paganism, particularly pagan gods, goddesses, and sacred animals. During this time, the cat became associated with the devil and witchcraft and was consequently avoided as a canting charge, as in the case of the large German family of Katzenellenbogen. However, the cat does appear in British, Scottish, and Irish arms; specifically, those of Keates and Scott-Gatty. Big cats including the tiger, leopard, and panther also appear in arms. The lion is a common charge, and is addressed separately.
cat (mean)
The cat is sacred to the ancient Egyptian protector goddess Bast, or Bastet, who is often represented as a woman with the head of a domesticated cat. Playful and affectionate yet a fierce predator at heart, Bast personifies the cat's gentle and mean qualities. Ancient Egyptians valued cats for their ability to kill mice and other vermin, thereby protecting crops and preventing the spread of disease. The cat is also sacred to Freya, the Old Norse goddess of fertility, beauty, love, and war. Freya rides a chariot pulled by two large cats given to her by the god Thor. With the dawn of the Christian era, through the European Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, the church was keen to erase all traces of paganism, particularly pagan gods, goddesses, and sacred animals. During this time, the cat became associated with the devil and witchcraft and was consequently avoided as a canting charge, as in the case of the large German family of Katzenellenbogen. However, the cat does appear in British, Scottish, and Irish arms; specifically, those of Keates and Scott-Gatty. Big cats including the tiger, leopard, and panther also appear in arms. The lion is a common charge, and is addressed separately.
chape or crampet
An integral part of the medieval warrior's paraphernalia, the chape (from Old French, meaning `hood') or crampet initially designated the decorative covering of a sword's sheath. As part of the sword, it symbolized chivalry and warrior spirit.
charges
The term `charges' encompasses all objects, wildlife, plants and extraordinary beings which can be depicted upon a shield. They can appear either on an ordinary or on the field (background) itself, and are generally positioned centrally, unless otherwise stated.
chequy
Another variation of the field which occurs frequently in heraldry is `chequy'. In this case, the field is divided into a combination of horizontal and vertical lines, thus creating a chequered pattern, reminiscent of the chessboard, a common symbol during the medieval period.
chessrook
This chess piece, similarly represented to the tower with turrets, stands for protection, courage and strength.
chevron
The term `chevron' which describes this charge comes from architecture, where it describes the angular middle of a roof where the gables from each side meet.
chief
The chief is similar to a fess, in that it is also a horizontal band drawn from one side of the shield to the other. It is distinguished by its position at the top of the shield.
cinquefoil
The cinquefoil is a widely-used heraldic device, due to its aesthetic qualities, and appears frequently accompanied by the cross crosslet. It signified purity, hope and joy.
clapper
The striking part of the bell which is used to create the sound, the clapper can sometimes be emblazoned in a different tincture than that of the instrument itself. Similarly to the bell, it stands for the church's power, protection and guidance.
claymore
The claymore represents one of the types of sword depicted in heraldry. A broadsword originating in Scotland in the 15th century, the claymore is a heavy weapon and requires a skilled and strong warrior to wield it. It signifies warrior spirit, strength, and justice.
cock
The cock appears more frequently as a crest than as a charge, and is usually depicted as a gamecock. Due to its pugnacity and the determination it shows in defeating its enemies, it symbolizes vigilance, watchfulness and courage. It was also seen as a symbol of generosity and conjugal love.
cock (rooster)
The symbol of vigilance, strength, pride and bossiness, the cock or rooster as he is also known, is an emblem of St. Peter. The rooster denotes great courage, and as the herald of the dawn, it is often used as an emblem of watchfulness. It signifies a hero in the battlefield or an able man in the political arena. It is said the rooster crows three times before the death of a person. As the cock was always connected in symbolism with death and resurrection, it has a place in religion as well since the Bible tells the story of Peter denying Christ before the cock crowed thrice. The cock is the most magnetic and sensitive of all birds, hence it's Greek name "Alectruon." In the sacred Zoroastrian text called the Avesta, the cock is called Parodarsh, "he who foresees" the coming dawn. The rooster is also termed the "drum of the worlds", for he crows in the dawn to dazzle away the evil fiends with his sounds and thus he shares with the dawn, the honor of the victory over another night.
cockatrice
The cockatrice is an imaginary creature, said to be the result of a chicken's egg which was hatched by a serpent. It is depicted with the head and legs of a cock and the body of a dragon. It inspired fear, but also symbolized strength, pugnacity, and power.
column
The pillar or column is one of the architectural elements which occur frequently in heraldry as charges. It symbolizes wisdom and fortitude.
combatant / respectant
The term `combatant' refers to the depiction of two animals or mythical beasts emblazoned facing each other, either as `rampant' or as `segreant'. When two docile animals are thus depicted, they are described as `respectant'. This attitude suggests warrior spirit and power.
comet
Generally emblazoned as a mullet of six points with a tail extending to the side of the shield, the comet had a complex meaning during the Middle Ages. It was seen as both a positive and negative omen, but was generally associated with hope and prophecy.
concentric annulets
This heraldic charge, sometimes referred to as a `whirlpool', appears for instance in the arms of the English family of Gorges, whose roots can be dated back to the Norman Conquest. It symbolizes strength, longevity and luck.
couchant
When depicted couchant, the lion is resting with its paws on the ground, but with its head elevated. This attitude denotes vigilance and power.
couchant guardant
A beast described as `couchant guardant' is lying down as in the traditional `couchant' attitude, but faces towards the viewer. It signifies sovereignty, majesty and watchfulness.
counter potent
A variant of the potent when it is emblazoned as a fur (that is, when it creates a recurring fur-like pattern on a shield) is the counter potent. These two instances are depicted with reversed tinctures and fields, and usually occur together to create the so-called potent counter-potent.
counter vair
A variant of vair with the same tinctures (azure on field argent), in the case of the counter vair each second row of bell-shaped objects is reverted, so that the figures created resemble shields. This fur seldom occurs in heraldry.
courant
A beast described as `courant' is depicted as in motion, running at full stride, with both pairs of legs in the air. It is an emblem of swiftness, strength and enthusiasm.
covered cup
The covered cup was originally part of canting arms, alluding to the name of "Butler", in direct association with the office of king's butler. It therefore symbolized all the beneficial qualities that a bearer who held this office needed to possess: obedience, constancy, discipline, loyalty and faith.
coward
The term `coward' refers to a lion (usually) or another beast depicted with its tail between its legs. Similarly to the `morne' and `disarmed' attitudes, it symbolizes obedience and temperance.
cramp
This instrument, also known as a `wolf-hook' or `Wolfsangel', was used during hunting in the Middle Ages, but also appears as a mark of medieval stonemasons. It is depicted in several ways in heraldry. Due to its association with the wolf, it stands for warrior spirit and power.
crane
The crane has a rich symbolic history in the works of medieval exegetes, who drew on the ancient legend of the crane holding a rock in its foot to keep itself awake and associated it with watchfulness, vigilance, prudence and dutifulness, as well as Christian wisdom and foresight.
crescent
The crescent or the half-moon was introduced in heraldry probably after the crusades, and was initially a symbol of Islam. In English heraldry it was the mark of cadency of the second son. It symbolized enlightenment, courage and excellence.
crescent with human face
Similarly to the sun with human face, the moon in its crescent form is frequently represented in heraldry, owing to ancient and medieval astrological beliefs which anthropomorphized the heavenly spheres. It stands for hope, peace and purity, due to its association in medieval iconography with the Holy Virgin.
crest
The crest is an extremely significant element in heraldry, which stands on top of the helmet within a coat of arms. The crest may be almost any type of object, animal, bird, etc., and it is not always related to the bearer's coat of arms but can reflect his or her own personality and character.
cross
Perhaps the most significant of the `honourable ordinaries', the cross has appeared on shields from the earliest times of heraldry. One of the medieval heroes who bore a cross gules on a field argent was Galahad, who discovered the Holy Grail. It signifies purity, sacrifice, sacredness and victory.
cross botony or trefly
The cross botonny or trefly's is distinguished by the trefoil-like endings of its arms. Similarly to the cross flory and the cross Moline, it stands for victory over sin, glory and majesty.
cross couped or crosslet couped
The cross couped or its diminutive, the crosslet couped, is a bearing which does not extend to the edges of the shield, as a result of its limbs being `couped' or cut. It is a symbol of Christian faith, virtue and spirit.
cross cramponned
The cross cramponned is characterized by its truncated limbs and is commonly known as a fyl-fot or a swastika. During the Middle Ages, its symbolism was different from its actual meanings. It suggests power, strength and virtue.
cross crosslet
One of the many varieties of crosses employed in heraldry, it was distinguished by its endings: it can be seen as four Latin joined Latin crosses. It symbolized glory, spirit and victorious Christianity.
cross degraded
The cross degraded is a variant of the Cross of Calvary, each of its arms ending in three steps. As such, it is symbolic of faith (piety), hope and charity.
cross ending in crescents
The cross ending in crescents is another variation of the cross which came to be adopted in heraldry during or after the time of the Crusades. It symbolizes military victory over Islam, as well as devotion and virtue.
cross ending in fusils
This type of cross has its limbs terminated with fusils - diamond-like geometrical figures similar to the lozenge, but narrower and more elongated -, and stands for industriousness, loyalty and wealth.
cross fitchy
This heraldic charge is characterized by the pointed ending of its lower arm, which resembles a sword. It thus shares the symbolism of the cross and that of the weapon, signifying virtue, warrior spirit and victory.
cross fleuretty / flurty
This type of cross had flowered ends, and, although many variations of it exist in both English and French heraldry, it generally stood for courage, victory and warrior spirit.
cross flory / fleury
The cross flory is similar to the cross fleuretty and Moline, and occurs frequently not only in heraldry but also in medieval art. It symbolizes glory, victory over sin and piety.
cross forked in base
The cross forked in base is a variant of the cross fourchy, having only one of the limbs split in two. It shares its symbolic associations with this type of cross, signifying virtue, sacredness and hope.
cross formy of 5 arms
This type of cross has its limbs flatted at the end and is generally depicted couped. Its five arms designate the five wounds of Christ, and are meant to inspire contrition and penance. It symbolizes piety and sacrifice.
cross formy, patty in base
The cross formy - with the ends of its limbs flattened - is usually designated as patty or pateé in French. It symbolizes military victory, warrior spirit and majesty.
cross frimbriated
The interior of the cross fimbriated is voided, only the outline of the actual charge being visible of the shield due to its different tincture from that of the field. It symbolizes sacrifice, resurrection and spirit.
cross maltese / cross of Malta
This device was assigned to the Knights of Malta, previously known as the Knights Hospitaller, during the sixteenth century. This order's initial mission was to tend to the sick and injured in the Holy Land. The cross's eight points symbolize the eight beatitudes, and it stands for piety, sacrifice and protection.
cross moline
The ends of the cross Moline were reminiscent of the shape of the mill-rind or fer-de-moline. It appears in English coats of arms as early as the reign of Edward II. Also used as a mark of cadency for the eight son, due to its endings, it stood for power, spirituality and hope.
cross moline or fourchy
A variety of the cross Moline, the cross fourchy is characterized by its forked ends. It signifies devotion to Christian values, virtue, as well as industriousness.
cross moline or recercely
A variant of the cross Moline, when described as `recercely' or `recercelé' the endings of the limbs have a rounder shape are bent more than in the regular version. It symbolizes virtue, hope and spirit.
cross moline or scarcely
When a cross Moline is described as `sarcely', the endings of its limbs resemble anchors. It symbolizes loyalty, spirit and temperance.
cross of 4 ermine spots
This type of cross is created through the combination of four ermine spots, usually emblazoned sable (proper), and thus shares the symbolic associations of the ermine. It stands for chivalry, sovereignty, strength and sacredness.
cross of toulouse
The so-called `cross of Toulouse' is a symbol of the medieval French province of Occitania. It is voided, with flattened triangular endings adorned with small circles. Despite its association with the Cathar heresy, the cross itself does not share the symbolism of this heresy. It signifies purity, devotion and virtue.
cross patonce
This type of cross is very similar to the cross fleury, both ending in three curved points. Its arms are however curved, not straight. It shares its symbolic meaning with the cross fleury and the cross Moline, and stands for glory, victory over sin and piety.
cross pommely / pommeted
The cross pommely or pommé has the endings of its arms terminated with circular shapes. It symbolizes strength and sacrifice.
cross potent throughout
The cross potent occurred most famously in the arms of Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. Its arms ended in so-called potents, and were similar to crutches. It symbolized faith and protection.
cross rayonnant
This type of cross is termed `rayonnant' due to the rays of sun (or Rays of Glory) which stem from its angles. It symbolizes glory and majesty.
cross repotencé
A variant of the cross potent, the cross repotencé shares its symbolism. It stands for protection and strength.
cross tronconne
The term `tronconne' describes a bearing that is `shivered' - broken or splintered. When applied to the cross, it denotes sacrifice and majesty.
cross wreathed
When described as `wreathed', a cross is depicted circled by wreaths or garlands. Due to this vegetal element, the bearing may allude to the dual nature of the cross, as sign of rebirth and as reminiscence of the tree of knowledge, which brought about humanity's suffering and the sacrifice.