Sun (heraldry)
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A representation of the sun is used as a heraldic charge. The most usual form, often called sun in splendour or in his glory, consists of a round disc with the features of a human face surrounded by twelve or sixteen rays alternating wavy and straight.Dictionary of Vexillology
Accessed 13 December 2009
The alternating straight and wavy rays are often said to represent the light and heat of the sun respectively. It was used as a badge by
Edward II of England Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
, and was later adopted by
Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...
following the appearance of a parhelion or "sun dog" before his victory at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461 (see also Battle of Mortimer's Cross#Parhelion). It also had significance in
alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...
, and may be a symbol of the Roman deity ''
Sol Invictus Sol Invictus (, "Invincible Sun" or "Unconquered Sun") was the official Solar deity, sun god of the late Roman Empire and a later version of the god Sol (Roman mythology), Sol. The emperor Aurelian revived his cult in 274 AD and promoted Sol Inv ...
'' (Unconquered Sun). It is a common charge in the heraldry of many countries, regions and cities: ''e.g.'' the bearings of Armstrong family in Canada; the Sun in Splendour appears superimposed on the Cross of St. George and behind the White Rose of York on the
flag A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...
of the
West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...
; and on the arms of Banbury
Town Council A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities. Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions. Republic of Ireland In 2002, 49 urban district councils and 26 town commissi ...
, England. It also often appears as a rising sun as in the arms of East Devon District Council, England, and as a demi sun as in the coat of Don McLean Aitchison, Canada. According to historian Diego Abad de Santillán, the Sun of May represents Inti, the Incan god of the sun, and thereby Inca culture. It appears as a heraldic sun in the
national flag A national flag is a flag that represents and national symbol, symbolizes a given nation. It is Fly (flag), flown by the government of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanin ...
s of
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
(1818) and
Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
(1828) and
Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
(1860), in the flags and shields of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (1836–1839) and its component the Republic of South Peru, in the flag of Peru of 1822–1825, and in the current flag of the Peruvian Navy (1821).


Examples

;Sun in splendour, with face Image:Blason famille fr Amelot.svg, Image:Flag_of_Argentina.svg, Image:Blason Arraincourt 57.svg, Image:Blason ville fr Auzeville-Tolosane (Haute-Garonne).svg, Image:Basse terre blason.png, Image:Blason ville-fr Bassurels (Lozère).svg, Image:Blason Creisset.svg, Image:CUB-cuba.png, Image:Blason ville fr Dole (Jura).svg, Image:Escudo de Ecija.svg, Image:CHE Ennetburgen COA.svg, Image:Blason ville fr Fontaines-Saint-Martin (Rhône).svg, Image:Wappen Kaenerkinden.png, Image:Kampod_r.gif, Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Khmelnytskyi_Oblast.svg, Image:Loukov znak.png, Image:Blason Mende.svg, File:Flag of Peru (1822).svg, File:Philippines Flag Original.svg, Image:Wappen at st gilgen.png, Image:Escut del Soleràs.svg, Image:POL województwo tarnopolskie II RP COA.svg, Image:Flag_of_Uruguay.svg, Image:Vedomice znak.jpg, Image:Věžky PR znak.png, Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Vinnytsa_Oblast.svg, Image:Coat_of_Arms_of_Zhytomyr_Oblast.svg, ;Sun in splendour, without face Image:Escudo de Archena.svg, Image:CHE Arosa COA.svg, Image:Blason ville fr Barbâtre (Vendée).svg, Image:Blason ville fr La Baule-Escoublac (Loire-Atlantique).svg, File:Flag of Colorado Party (Uruguay).svg, ;Straight rays ( mullet) File:Escudo de Beriáin.svg, File:DEU Dobel COA.svg, File:Escudo de Galar.svg, File:Flag of Greek Macedonia.svg, File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg, File:Flag of Tibet.svg, ;Wavy rays ( estoile) Image:Göteborg stift vapen.svg, Image:Escut Jekabpils rajonas.jpg, Image:Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg, Image:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg, ;Without rays ( roundel) File:Australian Aboriginal Flag.svg, Image:Flag_of_Japan.svg, Image:Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg, ;Other forms File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg, File:Coat of arms of Latvia.svg, File:Flag_of_North_Macedonia.svg, File:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg, File:Naval Jack of the Philippines.svg, Image:Seal of the First Philippine Republic.svg, File:Flag of Szekely Land.svg, Image:Armorial Bearings of British Airways.svg,


See also

*
Solar symbol A solar symbol is a symbol representing the Sun. Common solar symbols include circles (with or without rays), crosses, and spirals. In religious iconography, personifications of the Sun or solar attributes are often indicated by means of a halo ( ...
* Splendor Solis


References

{{Reflist Heraldic charges Sun Sol Invictus fr:Liste des meubles héraldiques#Soleil