Sun (heraldry)

The most usual form, often called sun in splendour or in his glory, consists of a round disc with the features of a human face surrounded by twelve or sixteen rays alternating wavy and straight.[2][3] The alternating straight and wavy rays are often said to represent the light and heat of the sun respectively.[4] 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[3][5] (see also Battle of Mortimer's Cross#Parhelion).It also had significance in alchemy, and may be a symbol of the Roman deity Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun).[6] It is a common charge in the heraldry of many countries, regions and cities: e.g. the bearings of Armstrong family in Canada;[7] the Sun in Splendour appears superimposed on the Cross of St. George and behind the White Rose of York on the flag of the West Riding of Yorkshire; and on the arms of Banbury Town Council,[8] England.
The sun as a charge
Sun of May as depicted on the flag of Argentina
Great Seal of Richard I of England (1198). Richard is depicted as seated between a crescent and a "Sun full radiant" [ 1 ]
chargeSun of MayArgentinaRichard I of Englandcrescentheraldic chargeEdward II of EnglandEdward IVparhelionBattle of Mortimer's CrossalchemyRoman deitySol InvictusCross of St. GeorgeWhite Rose of YorkWest Riding of YorkshireBanburyTown CouncilDiego Abad de SantillánIncan godnational flagsUruguayEcuadorPeru–Bolivian ConfederationRepublic of South Peruflag of PeruFlag of ArgentinaArraincourtAuzeville-TolosaneBasse-TerreBassurelsCreissetDole (Jura)ÉcijaEnnetbürgenFontaines-Saint-MartinKänerkindenKamianets-PodilskyKhmelnytskyi OblastLoukovFlag of the PhilippinesSankt GilgenTarnopol VoivodeshipFlag of UruguayVědomiceVěžkyVinnytsia OblastZhytomyr OblastArchenaBarbâtreLa Baule-EscoublacUruguayan Civil WarmulletBeriáinFlag of Macedonia (Greece)Vergina SunRepublic of China (Taiwan)Flag of TibetestoileDiocese of GothenburgJēkabpils DistrictFlag of KazakhstanFlag of KyrgyzstanroundelAustralian Aboriginal flagFlag of JapanFlag of BangladeshNaval EnsignCoat of arms of LatviaFlag of North MacedoniaNaval Jack of the PhilippinesPhilippinesSzékelysBritish AirwaysSolar symbolSplendor Solisstar and crescentIsaac Komnenos of CyprusPortsmouthGovernor General of CanadaAbad de Santillán, DiegoHistoria Argentina