Vexillology
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Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The term was coined in 1958 by Dr. Whitney Smith of the United States, the author of many books and articles on this subject. It was originally considered a sub-discipline of heraldry, and occasionally is still seen as such; it is also sometimes considered a branch of semiotics. [link] It is formally defined in the FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques) Constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge."
A person who studies flags is a vexillologist, and by extension, someone who designs or draws flags is occasionally called a vexillographer.
The word vexillology is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum and the suffix –ology meaning "study of". The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era. Unlike most modern flags which are suspended from a pole or mast along a vertical side, the square vexillum was suspended from a horizontal crossbar along its top side, which was attached to a spear.
Vexillologists are active in several national associations under the umbrella of FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques). Every second year, FIAV organizes the International Congress of Vexillology (ICV 2005 was in Buenos Aires, Argentina). Internet activity of vexillologists is centered on the Flags of the World website and mailing list.
Prominent vexillologists and vexillographers
- Emilio Aguinaldo, designer of the flag of the Philippines
- Graham Bartram
- Manuel Belgrano, designer of the flag of Argentina
- William Crampton
- John Eisemann, designer of the flag of Ohio
- Robert G. Heft, designer of the 50-star canton for the American flag
- Francis Hopkinson, designer (according to some historians) of the American flag
- Sharif Hussein, designer of the flag of the Arab Revolt
- Lu Hao-tung, designer of the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag of the Republic of China
- Francisco de Miranda, designer of the flag of Venezuela
- Betsy Ross, designer (according to legend) of the American flag
- Whitney Smith
- Zeng Liansong, designer of the flag of the People's Republic of China
See also
External links
- [FOTW (Flags of the World)]
- [World Flag Database]
- [Nordic Flag Society]
- [Societe Vexillologique de l'Ouest (France)]
- [Flag Institute (United Kingdom)]
- [The Flag Institute - Vexillology]
- [Serbian Vexillological Society (Serbia)]
- [NAVA (North American Vexillological association) (USA)]
- [Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flaggenkunde (Germany)]
- [FlagBerlin 2007 - 22. ICV at Berlin]
- [ICV 2005 at Buenos Aires]
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