Heraldic Ideas for the Combined A&S Orders
Official Announcement in the Mews
Her Majesty's Explanation
New Order Ideas
The deadline for suggestions is May 10th.
Please send all of your suggestions to HL Gianna Viviana, the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences at artssciences@calontir.org or in person at Queen's Prize.
Article about for Order Names...
New precedent for cultures that don't have later period European-style orders...
In general:
- Keep it simple. Your artisans and scribes will run into many difficulties with a too complex design, like crenellations or embattlements, etc.
- Please remember your minorities. Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.
- Also, even though the Cross of Calatrava is the kingdom's symbol, it is nonetheless a very fancy cross. It is both a difficult design to cut out of metal, and it's also.....a cross.
Creatures
Bear
Strong, sort-of lives in Calontir
Bee
See "Sets" below
Chimera of Owl and ?
Cow
"Cowontir"
Demobison
aka Flying Bison, see Flying Golden Boar
Flying Golden Boar
One of the wonders made by the dwarves in Norse mythology.
Fox
Clever, lives in Calontir
Tools and other objects
=Bee Skep
See "Sets" below.
Horn
Keeping with the Norse/Saxon history and making it subtle to avoid the appropriated symbology.
- Order of ‘The horn’. A silver (or gold) drinking horn on a field of purple, referencing the mead of poetry.
Unfortunately, Glean Abhean has horn-based awards since their mascot is a ram.
Ring
Keeping with the Norse/Saxon history and making it subtle to avoid the appropriated symbology.
- Order of ‘The ring’ or ‘golden ring’. A gold ring on a purple field, referencing the golden arm ring Draupnir crafted by the dwarves for Oden during one of Loki’s crafting challenges.
Drachenwald has the Order of the Ring as their catch-all (?) GoA order.
Rulers and other measuring tools.
We all use them. Whether we're measuring millimeters, milligrams or milliseconds.
Sheaf of Wheat, aka a Garb in Heraldeses
A reference to artisans who 'feed' the kingdom's need for things that nourish the mind and create the ambiance that makes our game so cool.
Thorn
A golden thorn on a purple background. People sometimes collect thorns to make needles out of them. Needles that then get used to make various things (sewing, nailbinding, leather working?!). You are creating a TOOL to make other things. Even that tool itself is a pretty thing and requires making. Then you can also tie it to Roses have thorns and what do consorts become after they are done reigning is roses...
Deities & Religion
Order of Athena's Needle (AoA) and Order of Athena's Helm (GoA)
You could swap Athena for her Roman counterpart Minerva, of course. The idea being that Athena (and Minerva) was known for crafts like weaving, but also was a goddess of wisdom overall, including tactics and battle strategy.
There was objection both on that this is explicitly gendered female (which is to say, gendered at all) and being gender neutral is preferred. There were also concerns because reference to any dieties was considered unfair and not secular.
Also please remember our minorities. Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.
Also, even though the calatrava is the kingdom's symbol, it is nonetheless a cross. It is both a difficult design to cut out of metal, and it's also.....a cross. Let's consider that some non-Christian folks and/or folks who may have church or other religious trauma may not want crosses on *every single award.*
Saxon Culture
Pros/cons expressed about emphasizing the Anglo-Saxon traditions of the Kingdom
Certain things, like reference to some Saxon and Norse gods or runes, are coopted by white supremacists.
Cræft-weard (AoA) + Cræft-Māðm (GoA)
- Order of the Cræft-weard (from the Old English terms for crafts and the word that means both award and guardian) (AoA)
- Order of the Cræft-Māðm (from the OE word for treasure) (GoA)
The idea of Saxon language seemed amenable to many, perhaps because the kingdom is a Saxon one, but there was feedback that the word "weird" would generate some unwelcome feelings among the populace.
Note that Order names need to be fairly concrete - real-world objects/heraldic charges, personal names, place names. Abstract concepts are... difficult (although using names of deities is explicitly allowed).
===Golden Ring (AoA) and Golden Flame (GoA)
- Order of the Golden Ring (from the ancient custom of ring giving by thains and thegns) (AoA)
- Order of the Golden Flame (a reference to the mythical gift of fire, and that such accomplished artisans enlighten and beautify the Kingdom) (GoA)
Sets
Athena's Needle (AoA) + Athena's Helm (GoA)
You could swap Athena for her Roman counterpart Minerva, of course. The idea being that Athena (and Minerva) was known for crafts like weaving, but also was a goddess of wisdom overall, including tactics and battle strategy.
See discussion under "Deities & Religion" above.
Bee + Bee Skep
“Unto the Honourable Lady Gianna Viviani, Greetings.
Their Majesties have called for the proposal of new awards for the Award of Arms, and Grant of Arms, level dedicated to the arts and sciences. When considering the names and symbolism of the proposed awards, I believed it was important for them to be tied together, to celebrate the individual, to show progression, and to demonstrate the inclusiveness we have here in Calontir. With that in mind, and in consultation with Mistress Emeline de Moulineaux, Mistress Alessandra de Piro, Baron Konstantia Kaloethina, and others, I humbly propose the following…
Golden Calon Bee: (Award of Arms) Purpure, a bee volant within a hexagon voided Or. Bees are industrious and adaptable. They have specializations, and change specializations as needs change. The name and colour scheme are a tip of the hat to the Golden Calon Swan, and make it obviously Calontiri.
Silver Skep: (Grant of Arms) Sable, a skep within a bordure Argent. I wanted to tie the two orders together thematically. Continuing with our theme, a skep is the old English word for a wicker beehive. Our artisans and craftspeople are part of a community. The skep demonstrates their inclusion in our collective Calontir mindset, and is designed to show the progress of the individual contributing to the greater whole. The colour scheme is a tip of the hat to the Silver Hammer.
…The names, and blazons, have been conflict checked, and would likely pass if submitted. If you have any questions, or concerns, please let me know. Thank you.
-Galen”
Shears (AoA) and Striking Falcon (GoA)
- AoA: gold shears on a purple background
- GoA: purple striking falcon on a gold background
Concern that the falcon might be confused with the populace badge (colors are reversed and there is a border)