page_title: Armillary sphere
section_title: Heraldry and vexillology
hierarchical_section_title: Armillary sphere / Heraldry and vexillology
caption_attribution_description: English: This 6' Armillary Sphere is on the San Jacinto Battleground site. It features the names of the nine fallen Texian soldiers engraved on the sundial's base. According to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site an armillary sphere was a tool used by ancient astronomers and navigators. It depicts the parts of the celestial sphere, in addition to telling time. The rings represent the equator, meridian and equinox. If you go there, take note of the engraved zodiac signs!
context_page_description: An armillary sphere is a model of objects in the sky, consisting of a spherical framework of rings, centred on Earth or the Sun, that represent lines of celestial longitude and latitude and other astronomically important features, such as the ecliptic. As such, it differs from a celestial globe, which is a smooth sphere whose principal purpose is to map the constellations. It was invented separately in ancient Greece and ancient China, with later use in the Islamic world and Medieval Europe.
  With the Earth as center, an armillary sphere is known as Ptolemaic. With the Sun as center, it is known as Copernican.
  The flag of Portugal features an armillary sphere. The armillary sphere is also featured in Portuguese heraldry, associated with the Portuguese discoveries during the Age of Exploration. In the flag of the Empire of Brazil, the armillary sphere is also featured.
context_section_description: The armillary sphere is commonly used in heraldry and vexillology, being mainly known as a symbol associated with Portugal, the Portuguese Empire and the Portuguese discoveries.
  In the end of the 15th century, the armillary sphere became the personal heraldic badge of the future King Manuel I of Portugal, when he was still a Prince. The intense use of this badge in documents, monuments, flags and other supports, during the reign of Manuel I, transformed the armillary sphere from a simple personal symbol to a national one that represented the Kingdom of Portugal and in particular its Overseas Empire. As a national symbol, the armillary sphere continued in use after the death of Manuel I.
  In the 17th century, it became associated with the Portuguese dominion of Brazil. In 1815, when Brazil gained the status of kingdom united with that of Portugal, its coat of arms was formalized as a golden armillary sphere in a blue field. Representing Brazil, the armillary sphere became also present in the arms and the flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. When Brazil became independent as an empire in 1822, the armillary sphere continued to be present in its national arms and in its national flag. The celestial sphere of the present Flag of Brazil replaced the armillary sphere in 1889.
  The armillary sphere was reintroduced in the national arms and in the national Flag of Portugal in 1910.
caption: 6' Armillary Sphere at the San Jacinto Battle Field in La Porte, Texas
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