| Date: |
Monday, January 1, 2001
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| Question/Topic: |
Florida State University Seal and Motto
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| Answer/Pointer: |
Florida State University - Seal and Motto
The seal of the university was designed by the faculty of the Art and Classics departments at the request of President Alfred A. Murphree soon
after the institution became a women's liberal arts college in 1905. The seal depicts three flaming torches or "flambeaux," with a banner
interwoven. The torches are labeled "vires," "artes," and "mores" These torches symbolize fire, the gift to humans from the Greek god
Prometheus. In Greek mythology, it was this gift that enabled our ancestors to create civilization. Vires is the Latin for physical, moral, and
intellectual strength; artes for love of beauty; and mores, for customs, character, and tradition. The design was chosen to encompass
the official motto of the college, with the torch as the symbol of continued aspiration and idealism, and the words vires, artes, and mores,
signifying the triple purpose of educating each student, physically, mentally, and morally.
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| Librarian: |
LCLCPL
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| Comments: |
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