YCI 10: The Seal of Yale College and Soldiers’ Memorial

the seal of Yale College

Text:

LUX ET VERITAS
SIGILL COLL YALEN NOV PORT NOV ANGL

Translation:

Light and Truth
The Seal of Yale College, New Haven, New England

Location: Schwarzman Center, Rotunda, 168 Grove Street

Commentary:

This inscription is inscribed on the shield of a soldier wearing a helmet. This soldier is carved into a flat wall, which is white marble, with this figure protruding only slightly from the background. This is located in the Memorial Hall, which “honors Yale students and faculty who gave their lives in armed conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War, must be preserved and respected. The committee hopes that the space can be enhanced with cleaning of the marble, new lighting, and explication of the lives honored” (Report to Yale President Peter Salovey, 36).

The soldier memorial bas-relief is dedicated to and commemorates soldiers or military personnel who graduated from Yale University, particularly those who sacrificed their lives in the Spanish American War & Philippine insurrection. Positioned on two adjacent walls, the right side serves as a backdrop, presenting a listing of casualties from the ‘SPANISH AMERICAN WAR & PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION,’ ‘WAR OF 1812,’ and ‘WAR WITH MEXICO.’ On the left, the continuation of the Spanish American War & Philippine Insurrection casualties unfolds, each name accompanied by their Yale graduation year, military title, location, and date of death. In particular, most of the year of death matches the year of the Spanish American War (1898). In this regard, this bar-relief soldier whose shield has the Latin inscription should be understood as a memorial to honor the sacrifices, services and bravery of individuals who have served and died in the military in the Spanish American War & Philippine Insurrection.

This bas-relief soldier, bearing a Latin inscription on the shield, stands as a poignant memorial, honoring Yale alumni’s sacrifices, service, and valor in the Spanish American War & Philippine Insurrection. This soldier can be understood as a visual representation of respect and gratitude, evoking a profound acknowledgment for those who dedicated their lives to the United States armed forces.

The soldier is shown naked, wearing a helmet, holding a sword, wearing sandals, and holding a military robe. Right above the soldier, there is an English inscription that reads, “Courage Disdains Fame and Wins it.” The Latin inscription on the shield of the soldier is translated as “Light and Truth,” which is Yale’s motto. Based on the list of those killed in battle adjacent to the soldier, this inscription can suggest that those memorialized in the battle – the Spanish American War – fought for the “Light and Truth” of the world, embodying the principles encapsulated in Yale’s enduring motto.

The circular inscription in the arched ceiling surrounding the Latin inscription reads, “SIGILL: COLL: YALEN: NOV: PORT: NOV: ANGL:” – a series of abbreviations translating to “The Seal of Yale College, New Haven, New England.” In the center is the seal itself, bearing Yale’s motto in both Latin and Hebrew (אוריםוהמים), meaning “Light and Truth.” (See YCI 1.) In this regard, the Latin inscription “Light and Truth” can be understood as an official emblem or design that represents Yale, conveying the values, traditions, and history of Yale University, particularly commemorating Yale alumni—students and faculty—who gave their lives at the Spanish American War for “Light and Truth” of the world.

The soldier memorial bas-relief is one of the four distinct bas-reliefs adorning the Memorial Hall. The other three reliefs are 1) a female figure, positioned to the left of the soldier memorial bas-relief, holding a sandglass, accompanied by the inscription, “Memory here guards ennobled names,” 2) another female figure, holding both a baby and a symbolic leaf, above whom the inscription reads, “Peace Crowns Their Act of Sacrifice,” situated diagonally of the soldier memorial bas-relief and 3) a male figure, positioned on the opposite side of the soldier memorial bas-relief, holding a flag and wearing a cloak above whom the inscription reads, “DEVOTION GIVES A SANCTITY TO STRIFE.” The 2) and 3) are to commemorate Yale students and faculty who gave their lives in the War of Revolution.

These four reliefs are meticulously crafted to commemorate Yale students and faculty who sacrificed their lives during the War. Notably, while all the reliefs share this commemorative purpose, it is intriguing to observe that only the soldier memorial bas-relief bears both Latin and Hebrew inscriptions, proudly displaying Yale’s motto, ‘Light and Truth.’ Consequently, the soldier memorial bas-relief can be comprehended in its entirety as a profound representation of homage to Yale students and faculty who made the ultimate sacrifice in armed conflicts, unified by the guiding principles encapsulated in Yale’s motto.

New Haven – Yale Inscriptions