The Great Seal of Arkansas is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the Government of
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
. The phrase is used both for the physical
seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, also called "true seal"
** Fur seal
** Eared seal
* Seal ( ...
itself, which is kept by the
governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
, and more generally for the design impressed upon it. The seal was modified to its present form on May 23, 1907.
Design
Title 1 of the Arkansas Code specifies that the seal “shall present the following impressions, devices and emblems, to wit: An eagle at the bottom, holding a scroll in its beak, inscribed ‘Regnat populus,’ a bundle of arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other; a shield covering the breast of the eagle, engraved with a steamboat at top, a beehive and plow in the middle, and sheaf of wheat at the bottom; the
Goddess of Liberty at the top, holding a wreath in her right hand, a pole in the left hand, surmounted by a
liberty cap, and surrounded by a circle of stars outside of which is a circle of rays; the figure of an angel on the left, inscribed ‘Mercy,’ and a sword on the right hand, inscribed ‘Justice,’ surrounded with the words ‘Seal of the State of Arkansas.’ ”
History
The present seal was established pursuant to an
Act of
Assembly passed on May 23, 1907. It amended the act of May 3, 1864, by correcting the wording of the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
motto from ''Regnant populi'' to ''Regnat populus''.
Seals of Arkansas
The seal of the region changed over time.
Image:Arkansas Territorial Seal 1835 drawing.png, before 1836
Image:Arkansas Seal 1861 drawing.png, from 1836
Image:AmCyc Arkansas - seal.jpg, from 1864
Image:Seal of Arkansas.svg, after 1907
See also
*
Flag of Arkansas
The state flag of the U.S. state of Arkansas, also known as the Arkansas flag, is a red banner Charge (heraldry), charged with a large blue-Bordure, bordered white Lozenge (heraldry), lozenge (diamond). Twenty-nine Pentagram, five-pointed stars ...
*
Symbols of the State of Arkansas
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arkansas, Great Seal Of
Great Seal
A great seal is a seal used by a head of state, or someone authorised to do so on their behalf, to confirm formal documents, such as laws, treaties, appointments and letters of dispatch. It was and is used as a guarantee of the authenticity of ...
Angels in art
Great Seal
A great seal is a seal used by a head of state, or someone authorised to do so on their behalf, to confirm formal documents, such as laws, treaties, appointments and letters of dispatch. It was and is used as a guarantee of the authenticity of ...
Eagles in art
Farming in art
Plants in art
Roman goddesses in art
Ships in art
Sun in art
Great Seal
A great seal is a seal used by a head of state, or someone authorised to do so on their behalf, to confirm formal documents, such as laws, treaties, appointments and letters of dispatch. It was and is used as a guarantee of the authenticity of ...
Symbols introduced in 1864
United States state seals