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What does the heraldic term rampant mean for an animal?
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heraldry
Cylinder seal impression from the Akkadian period with a combat scene between a bearded hero and a bull-man and various beasts.
In the context of heraldry, the term rampant describes an animal depicted standing on its hind legs with its head in profile.1
This posture is one of several specific terms used to define the position of a creature on a coat of arms:
- Rampant: Standing on the hind legs with the head in profile.1
- Rampant guardant: The same posture as rampant, but with the animal's head facing forward (full-faced).1
- Combattant: Two animals shown fighting while in the rampant position.1
Other common heraldic positions for animals include passant (walking), couchant (lying down), dormant (sleeping), sejant (sitting), and statant (standing).1