Blazon and Symbolism
The Boston College coat-of-arms incorporates the heraldic symbols of knowledge; Boston, Massachusetts; Boston, Lincolnshire; and the Jesuit Order. According to a pamphlet published by Sub Turri, the coat of arms is blazoned as follows:
| “ | On a field gules, above a trimount in base or, an open book argent edged of the second, thereon an inscription αἰέν ἀριστεὺειν (Ever to Excel); on a chief sable between two crowns composed of alternate crosses patté and fleur-de-lis or, the badge of the Society of Jesus, azure and or. | ” |
The tinctures, gules and or, are the heraldic equivalents of the Boston College colors, maroon and old gold. The "trimount," represents the city of Boston's early topographical distinction of three hills (Mount Vernon, Beacon Hill, and Pemberton Hill) and its former name, Tremontaine or Tremont. The open book is symbolic of knowledge and is the central charge of the academic shield. The chief is derived from the coat of arms of the town of Boston, Lincolnshire, in England (Saint Botolph's Town) after which the New England city is named, which features a field sable, three crowns, of crosses patté and fleur-de-lis, per pale or. Only two crowns are shown, the place of the third being taken by the badge of the Jesuit order. This badge has a field, azure, rayonne or, enclosing the letters IHS, a Christogram based on the first three letters of "Jesus" in Greek (Ίησους, Latinized IHSOVS), under a cross and above three nails, of the second.
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