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Where are the honour point and fess point located on a heraldic shield?
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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 heraldry, the surface of the shield is known as the field, which is divided into a grid of nine points to help locate charges or designs. These points are determined by combining vertical and horizontal divisions of the shield.1
- Honour point: This is located at the center of the pale (the center vertical third) in the chief (the top third) of the shield.1
- Fess point: This is the exact center of the shield, situated at the center of the horizontal middle third.1
These reference points are essential for the precise placement of heraldic elements within an armorial achievement.1