Imaginary heraldic Figure

The imaginary figures of heraldic are very numerous, creations original or adaptations, sometimes very free, of former creations of any origine (mythologies Egyptian, Greek, Christian…). However the field of creation is practically limited to the animal field: there are no - or then very little - imaginary plants or magic objects in the blazons.

The limit between natural figures and imaginary figures is very theoretical, in the sense that the natural figures are it rather little: a heraldic Lion can have two tails or two heads, the heraldic Aigle even three, or not to have neither nozzle nor leg, without ceasing being regarded as “natural”, but cerberus, dog with three heads, will be classified to him imaginary…

The majority of the imaginary figures are obtained by more or less complex mixture of different species. Some (rare) figures, like the Phoenix, although completely imagined, do not present any morphological strangeness and are classified here much more because of the supernatural capacities which theirs are allotted. This approach introduces more ambiguous cases, like the heraldic salamander or the paschal lamb - classified here by certain authors - who however have imaginary only supernatural load which is allotted to them. (For the lamb, the fact of carrying a banner does not make it more imaginary than many other natural figures carrying sword, crown and another gadget.)

Hybrids

A frequent mode of creation of imaginary beings consists has to associate two species per halves: in addition to the heraldic specialities like the francolin (semi-cock semi-turkey), one finds the many traditional ones: centaur and its female, less traditional counterpart: Centauresse (or centaurelle ), dream, griffon, harpie, Horus, Minotaure, Sphinx, Hippogriffe, etc

In the absence of a specific name, any composition representing an animal of which a part was borrowed from another species, is blasonné monster or monstrous . In particular, one blasonne monstrous without another precision an animal equipped with an human face.

Marine monsters

In fact they are hybrids of fish (for the tail) and of terrestrial species (for the remainder). Such an hybrid is known as marinaded . Because of a belief according to which any terrestrial being had its during sailor, it is probable that the classification of the marinaded compositions in the imaginary figures concerns a modern vision.

Famous and frequent: the marinaded woman siren and its alternative mélusine.

the man marinaded is not very frequent. One finds it in England, especially in the Ornements external of the ecu. If its female counterpart is attracting by nature, it is him, rather alarming and pushing back. It can be in armure.
It is more frequent in its version triton , holding a three-pronged fork and blowing in a conch to cause storms.

Another frequent figure is the Capricorn, composed of a chest of goat (with the forelimbs) and of a cut in front.

Figures receiving an unusual accessory

wings : in addition to the family of the angels (Archangel S, Seraph S, Chérubin S or cherubs), winged lions ( lion of Venice, lion of Marc Saint…) , one finds PEGASE, Cupid… and the amphiptère , snake equipped with reversed wings of bat. (see opposite);
horns : Unicorn (frontal);
snakes : jellyfish (hair);
ears : Midas (four ears of asses).

Figures having a component of unusual number

head : cerberus (three or more), hydre (seven!), amphisbene (two of which one with the tail, to see opposite)… the compositions not having a particular name are blasonnées bicephalous , tricéphale , then: with N heads ;
face : janus (two), Gérion (three);
eye : Cyclops (only one), argus (a hundred).

Complex compositions

In addition to the traditional ones like various the dragon S (becoming even monstrous with a head of man (!)), one finds compositions typically heraldic:

panther : body of lion, head of horse, horns and legs of bull (sometimes the legs fronts are greenhouses of eagle). She vomits flames by the mouth and the ears…
tiger : lion with the lengthened muzzle, horns bent downwards and wild boar defenses;
anteloppe : body of stag, head of dragon with right horns (antelope of heraldic English).

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