SR - Lions and Eagles and Boars, Oh My!

[clward at mmm.com]

Lord Konrad from Tempio said
>I am seeing a lot of lions flying around the ether.
>However,  I am leaning towards raptors myself.

For those who are fans of animals other than the great and noble Lion, recall
also that we have other spots on a complete achievement for such, including
helm crest and both supporters.

I personally very much like the use of a Lion.  The White Lion is reserved in
Ansteorra as a symbol of the Lions of Ansteorra, but I wonder if it might not
be allowed to be used on principality arms.

The Lions of Ansteorra represent the best the SCA has to offer.  They are the
people whose conduct and bearing makes you believe that they are a real
medieval person, and maybe for just a moment they can transport you to believe
that *you* really are in the Middge Ages.  Individually, when you look at those
people who have been honored as Lions of Ansteorra, you will see people who are
courageous, strong, honorable, exemplars for us all.  Combining all of this
tradition associated with the Lion in Ansteorra with the traditional attributes
of the Lion as King of the Beasts, you end up with a heraldic symbol which
exemplifies for me the heart of Ansteorra.

Perhaps we can have the arms using the lion symbol (I much prefer the lion
rampant, if such can be passed without overelaboration), and incorporating an
eagle or falcon in the crest, and perhaps one of those famous South Texas Wild
Boars (the offspring of Russian boar, feral pigs, and javelina) as one of the
supporters.

Just a thought!

I've also wondered if we might want to use the concept of being the "heartland"
of Ansteorra in the naming or heraldry of a principality.  Not having my Old
Norse or Old English dictionaries handy, I leave it to those nearer their
references to suggest a construction for "heartland" -- but it *is* a
description of land, and maybe even medieval enough to make Daniel happy, maybe?

::GUNNORA::

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