Sun in splendour
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Sun in Splendour is a heraldic device or charge. It consists of a round disc representing the sun surrounded by, alternately, straight and wavy rays (often eight of each), and sometimes (though not very often, at least these days, contains the eyes, nose and mouth of a human face. It is alternately known as the Sun in his Glory.
It is a common device throughout the Anglophone heraldries - e.g. the bearings of Armstrong, Canada, and the arms of Banbury Town Council, England. It often appears as a rising sun as in the arms of East Devon District Council, England
It was used as a badge by Edward II of England, and was later adopted by Edward IV following the appearance of a parhelion or "sun dog" before his victory at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461. It also had significance in alchemy, and has been suggested as being a visual image of the Roman deity Sol Invictus.
The Sun of May shown on the national flag of Uruguay has an identical form to the "Sun in Splendour".
See also