sea-lion
{{Short description|Half-cat half-fish mythic creature}}
{{About|the mythical creature|the marine mammal|sea lion|other uses|Sea lion (disambiguation)}}
File:Complete Guide to Heraldry Fig314.png
In heraldry, the term sea-lion (sometimes called a morse){{Cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |author-link=Arthur Charles Fox-Davies |others=Ill. by Graham Johnston |year=1909 |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |location=London & Edinburgh |publisher=T.C. & E.C. Jack |page=186}} refers to a legendary creature that has the head and upper body of a lion, but with webbed forelimbs and a fish tail.{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/pimbleysdiction00pimbgoog#page/n70/mode/2up/search/sea |title=Sea lion |work=Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry |page=58 |date=1908 |location=Baltimore |publisher=Arthur Francis Pimbley |access-date=2012-02-29}} These occur most frequently as supporters, but also occur as crests and occasionally as charges. Sea-lions are frequently found in "sejant" or "sejant-erect" (sitting upright) attitudes, but may also be found "naiant" (horizontally, as if swimming) or "assurgeant" (issuing from the waves of the sea).
In the Philippines
File:Philippines Legion of Honor.jpg
The sea-lion is prominent in the heraldic tradition of the Philippines, where it denotes state power and authority. It features on the coats of arms of the capital, the primatial see, the seal of the navy, the presidential seal, the seals of the Department of Finance, the Department of Education and other various government offices. It can also be found on the medal of the Philippine Legion of Honor.
The heraldic device comes from Manila's colonial arms, where the sea-lion represents the islands as an ultramar (overseas) possession of Spain; the lion is ultimately derived from the arms of Castile and León.
On May 30, 1596, Philip II of Spain gave Manila its own specific coat of arms:{{cite book|last=Ocampo|first=Ambeth|title=Looking Back 6: Prehistoric Philippines|year=2012|publisher=Anvil Publishing, Inc.|location=Mandaluyong, Philippines|isbn=978-971-27-2767-2|pages=21}}
:"On the upper half of the coat of arms is a castle of gold on a red field, with a door and windows in blue, atop the shield a crown. On the lower half, on a blue field is a figure half lion half dolphin in silver, with colored claws and tongue, holding in its paw an unsheathed sword..."
In other countries
- A sea-lion can be seen on the Crest of the 8th Marine Regiment of the United States Marine Corps.[http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/imef-public.nsf/sites/2ndBat_8thMar I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) Official Public Website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125160011/http://www.imef-fwd.usmc.mil/imef/imef-public.nsf/sites/2ndBat_8thMar |date=November 25, 2006 }}
- The carp statue, in front of Chenghuang Temple ({{lang|zh-Hant-tw|城隍廟}}; Chénghuáng Miào) in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.[http://dep-administration.hccg.gov.tw/web/News?command=showDetail&postId=172548 Hsinchu Carp Statue opening ceremony]
Gallery
File:Burgas-coat-of-arms.svg|A crowned sea-lion in the coat of arms of the city of Burgas, Bulgaria.
File:Coat of Arms of Buitenzorg (1932).svg|Coat of arms of Bogor during the Dutch colonisation
File:Coat of Arms of Manila (Colonial).svg|Arms of Spanish Manila, which were sometimes used for the Philippines as a whole.
File:Arms of the Seal of Manila, Philippines.svg|The present arms of the City of Manila.
File:Sealand Coat of Arms.svg|Coat of Arms of the Principality of Sealand.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mythicalcreatureslist.com/mythical-creature/Sea+Lion Sea Lion] at Mythical Creatures List
- [http://malacanang.gov.ph/75853-the-ancient-archipelagic-ultramar-symbol-of-manila-the-presidency-and-the-philippines/ The Ancient Archipelagic Ultramar]: Symbol of Manila, the Presidency, and the Philippines
{{Commons category|Sea lions in heraldry}}
{{Heraldic creatures}}