ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Armorial of British universities

Okay, so let's imagine you're playing a game with your friends and you all belong to different teams. To show which team you're on, you might wear a special badge or hat with a symbol on it. This symbol is called a "coat of arms" or sometimes just "arms." It helps people know who you are and what team you're on.

Well, universities in Britain are kind of like teams too. They have their own special symbols called "armorial" or "coats of arms" to show that they're part of a particular university. These symbols are often displayed in important places like on official documents, on flags, and even on buildings.

Now, let's think about what these symbols actually look like. Imagine a shield or a sign that has different pictures or patterns on it. These pictures and patterns have special meanings that tell a story about the university or its history. They might include things like animals, plants, and different shapes.

For example, let's take a look at the University of Oxford's coat of arms. It has a picture of an open book in the middle, which represents learning and knowledge. There are also three crowns on top, which represent the three "orders" of people the university wanted to educate: the clergy (religious leaders), the nobility (royal or noble families), and the common people (regular folks like you and me). The crown on the top of the middle crown is a special crown called the "coronet" which represents the university's connection to the British monarchy.

Another example is the University of Cambridge. Their coat of arms includes two yellow lions, which represent courage and strength. There's also a book with seven red crosses on it, which stands for the seven "legions" of angels mentioned in the Bible. This symbolizes the university's connection to religion and spirituality.

So, the armorial of British universities is like a special set of symbols that each university uses to show who they are and what they stand for. It's kind of like a fancy badge or hat that you wear to tell people which team you belong to. These symbols have different pictures and patterns that have special meanings related to the university's history and values.