Sunday Stamps - May 18, 2025
Shields... Crests... Heraldry
Those are this week's theme for Sunday Stamps.
Belgium 1935 - Lion Rampant (forelegs raised, standing on hind legs, unsheathed claws, ready for battle), with ermine denoting nobility and purity.
New Zealand c1971 - Coat of Arms of the City of Invercargill
Norway 1951 - Coat of Arms - here the lion is holding an axe, which symbolizes Saint Olav's role in seeking to unify Norway under Christianity. He was a Viking king, Olav II Haraldsson, later canonized as a saint. He died, by axe, in 1030, fighting to reclaim his throne and defend the faith. As the weapon of his death, the axe was a symbol of his sacrifice, and has over time come to represent justice and the Christian heritage of Norway.
Finishing May, next week will be Cities/Urban stamps.
Good axe facts, a melee with axes must have been particularly vicious. A more peaceful view of life with the sheaves and sheep of NZ.
ReplyDeleteSome striking images (pun not intended).
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Viridian
ReplyDeleteAn axe seems a particularly gruesome weapon of death. But good for them to turn it into something more positive.
ReplyDeleteLions are very frequent in heraldry! I like when the coat of arms include the motto in Latin :)
ReplyDeleteThe birds depicted on the New Zealand stamps holding the shield are distinct and perfectly suited for the coat of arms.
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