Heraldic Gifts
Heraldic Charges
THE LION
There is no end to the number of charges the can be devised for use in heraldry both now or in ancient times. Today we can use anything from a tractor to a motor car or an areoplane,and there is no law against it. Something to bear in mind is that modern things date very quickly whereas a lion pessant is the same today as it was 600 years ago and means the same thing to any one involved in heraldry, so you see some of these modern things may not have the same universal meaning.Some of the most attractive coat of arms are those that are made up of some the simplest images and symbols you can find. One of the best known charges are the heraldic lions in the various positions they’re depicted in. A lion rampant is standing on his hind legs if one foot is raised he is pessant, the lion couchant is when he is lying on his stomach.When the lion is shown about to leap on his prey, rather like the rampant position but with both hindpaws on the ground he is salient. The lion has been mention as on of the first charges ,as its on of the oldest and appears in the arms of Norway,Denmark,England and Scotland.
THE EAGLE
Birds are plentiful in Heraldry, the best known being the Eagle which in the bird world is the counterpart of the lion. Its very common in German Heraldry where it is often displayed in an affronte position with its wings displayed outwards and the tips upwards. When the wings are point downwards they are called inverted. The Heraldic Eagle is often displayed double- headed, the two heads facing in opposite directions.