Yale (mythical creature)
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The yale (also "centicore", Latin "eale") is a mythical beast found in European mythology. Most descriptions make it an antelope- or goat-like four-legged creature with large horns that it can swivel in any direction.
The name might be derived from Hebrew "yael", meaning "mountain goat".
The yale was first written about by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History. The creature passed into medieval bestiaries and heraldry, where it represents proud defense. It was used by the British Royal Family as a supporter for the arms of John, Duke of Bedford, and by England's Beaufort family. Margaret Beaufort's yale supporters can be seen over the gateways of Cambridge's Christ's College and St. John's College. There are also yales on the roof of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
In modern times, the yale as a heraldic symbol is weakly associated with Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Neither the University's coat of arms nor most of its other heraldry features the yale, and the school's primary sports mascot is a bulldog named Handsome Dan. But a yale is depicted on the official banner of the President of the University, which is carried and displayed during commencement exercises each spring, and yales can be seen above the gateway to Yale's Davenport College.
[edit] References
- Donna M. Hrynkiw, The Yale: Heraldic Beast (August 20, 1998).
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth, (2000) New York City: W.W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-32211-4.
A Yale is sometimes referred to as a Shongmaw. They are independent creatures, living in a set territory. Yales are known for their sparkling eyes that occasionally open, with much struggling. Their manes are spike-like. Yale are moderately sized and ranged from 100 to 180 pounds. In ancient Eastern legends, they are known to cure broken hearts of young maidens without seeking anything in return.
