Sea-lion
In heraldry, the term sea-lion (sometimes called a morse)[1] refers to a legendary creature that has the head and upper body of a lion, but with webbed forelimbs and a fish tail.[2] These occur most frequently as supporters, but also occur as crests and occasionally as charges.[1] Sea-lions are frequently found in "sejant" or "sejant-erect" (sitting upright) attitudes, but may also be found "naiant" (horizontally, as if swimming) or "assurgeant" (issuing from the waves of the sea).[1]
In the Philippines
The sea-lion is prominent in the heraldic tradition of the
The heraldic device comes from Manila's colonial arms, where the sea-lion represents the islands as an ultramar (overseas)
.On May 30, 1596, Philip II of Spain gave Manila its own specific coat of arms:[3]
- "On the upper half of the coat of arms is a castle of gold on a red field, with a door and windows in blue, atop the shield a crown. On the lower half, on a blue field is a figure half lion half dolphin in silver, with colored claws and tongue, holding in its paw an unsheathed sword..."
In other countries
- A sea-lion can be seen on the Crest of the 8th Marine Regiment of the United States Marine Corps.[4]
- The
Gallery
-
Coat of arms of Bogor during the Dutch colonisation
-
Arms of Spanish Manila, which were sometimes used for the Philippines as a whole.
-
The present arms of theCity of Manila.
-
Coat of Arms of the Principality of Sealand.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. Ill. by Graham Johnston. London & Edinburgh: T.C. & E.C. Jack. p. 186.
- ^ "Sea lion". Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry. Baltimore: Arthur Francis Pimbley. 1908. p. 58. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ISBN 978-971-27-2767-2.
- ^ I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) Official Public Website Archived November 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hsinchu Carp Statue opening ceremony
External links
- Sea Lion at Mythical Creatures List
- The Ancient Archipelagic Ultramar: Symbol of Manila, the Presidency, and the Philippines