ANST - P-word lead-in

[Todd Marsh]

Pendaran wrote:

Also, lions are regal, majestic animals that symbolize strength and 
courage. Who wouldn't want to be associated with those qualities?

"The Great Chain" was a popular medieval concept.  It held that everything can be considered better or worse than similar things, and within each area there is a best and a worst.  Nothing is equal.  Angels were considered the greatest beings, followed by Man, Beasts, Plants, and Stones. Precedence among men was carefully tracked, so everyone knew who was better than whom.  The best stone was the diamond, the highest rank of angels were the Seraphim, and the king of beasts, the noblest animal, was the Lion.

Saying "you are like a Lion among beasts" was the highest praise, because that means you are the very best.  A Lion would be a good choice for a principality's heraldry.
  
Llywelyn
Lord Elfsea
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/ms-tnef
Size: 3321 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.ansteorra.org/pipermail/ansteorra-ansteorra.org/attachments/19980219/91b9f0b6/attachment-0003.bin>