Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Institutional Heraldry of the World:
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English |
Arms: Azure, a pegasus salient argent. |
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on May 10, 1967.
The shield used by the Inner Temple seems to have been in existence from the year 1562 or early in 1563, for there is evidence that the Pegasus was adopted as the device of the Inner Temple after the Christmas Revels of 1562 held in honour of Lord Robert Dudley, at which twentyfour gentlemen were dubbed " Knights of the Order of Pegasus."
The real reason for the adoption of the pegasus by the Inner Temple is unknown, unless it be that, as Guillim says in his Heraldry (editions of 1610 and 1632), the pegasus typifies "exceeding activity and energy of mind whereby one may mount to honour." It has also been suggested that the pegasus on the shield of the Inn is a corruption of the device or badge of the Knights Templar, two knights riding on one horse.
Literature: Bretton, 1957
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