[MR] scallop shells

[EoganOg at aol.com]

Heraldicly, I always believe that simpler is better.  The simplest thing to 
do, right now, is just to leave the Arms as they are.  However, if it is 
decided that the Arms are to be changed, I would strongly encourage a 
simpler, not a more complex design.  The simplest suggestion so far made (and 
the most period) is to simply use the Kingdom Arms for both the King and 
Queen.  As someone else pointed out, the Queen's Arms would still be 
registered to the Kingdom in case any future Queen decided to use them for 
certain occasions.

My main purpose for posting is this.  A scallop shell, besides being related 
to a clam, and thus giving rise to rather adult canting, is widely used in 
heraldry and other symbolism.  Since, as many have pointed out, a scallop is 
NOT a clam, let's take a look at some other uses of the scallop shell.

It's the primary charge of the badge for the Order of the Pearl.  As the 
identifying symbol of our Kingdom's Arts and Sciences order, the scallop 
should be held in pretty high esteem in our Kingdom.

Mundanely, the scallop was used as the pilgrim's badge for those travleing to 
Santiago de Compostella in Spain.  Because this was such a popular pilgimage 
destination, the scallop shell has now taken on a symbolic meaning of 
pilgrimage in general.

The scallop shell is also used as a symbol to represent the Sacrament of 
Baptism.

Arts & Sciences . . . Pilgrimage . . . Baptism . . . all in all, a pretty 
honorable and worthy symbol, I believe.

If the Crown wants to keep it on the Queen's Arms, I'm fine with that.  I'll 
probably vote to keep the spots off just for aesthetic reasons.

Aye,
Eogan Og
Sacred Stone Persuivant
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/pipermail/atlantia-atlantia.sca.org/attachments/20020402/09c07fc7/attachment-0020.htm>