Coat of Arms

WHAT IS IT?

• A COAT OF ARMS IS A SPECIAL SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS

A FAMILY, ORGANIZATION, OR COUNTRY. IT USUALLY HAS
DIFFERENT COLORS AND SHAPES THAT HAVE SPECIAL
MEANINGS. THIS IS CALLED SYMBOLISM. THE SYMBOLS ON
A COAT OF ARMS CAN REPRESENT THINGS LIKE
STRENGTH, COURAGE, WISDOM, OR LOYALTY.

HISTORY

• COATS OF ARMS HAVE BEEN USED FOR HUNDREDS OF

YEARS AND ARE STILL USED TODAY. THEY WERE FIRST
USED BY KNIGHTS IN MEDIEVAL TIMES TO SHOW
THEIR IDENTITY AND STATUS. LATER ON, COATS OF
ARMS WERE USED BY ROYAL FAMILIES TO SHOW
THEIR POWER AND WEALTH.

HOW IS A COAT OF ARMS MADE?

• EACH PART OF A COAT OF ARMS HAS

A SPECIAL NAME AND MEANING. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE SHIELD IS THE MAIN
PART OF THE COAT OF ARMS AND IT
USUALLY HAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
SYMBOLS. THE CREST IS AT THE TOP
OF THE SHIELD AND IT OFTEN SHOWS
AN ANIMAL OR BIRD. THE MOTTO IS A
SHORT SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT
GIVES A MESSAGE ABOUT THE
OWNER OF THE COAT OF ARMS.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

CONCLUSION

• IN CONCLUSION, A COAT OF ARMS IS A SPECIAL

SYMBOL THAT HAS MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS. IT
CAN REPRESENT A FAMILY, ORGANIZATION, OR
COUNTRY. UNDERSTANDING THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND
A COAT OF ARMS CAN HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT
ITS OWNER AND THEIR VALUES.