What's the meaning of the Seal of Rhode Island »

Seal of Rhode Island

This page is about the meaning, origin and characteristic of the symbol, emblem, seal, sign, logo or flag: Seal of Rhode Island.

Rate this symbol:3.0 / 2 votes

The Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations features a blue field with a golden maritime anchor as its central image below the phrase "HOPE." The anchor has been used as a symbol for Rhode Island since the colony's founding in 1636, well before the region claimed statehood.

Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Christian minister, Anne Hutchinson, and others seeking religious freedom from persecution in Massachusetts and Europe. The seal's words and emblems were likely inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul," found in Hebrews, Verse 6:18-19. After Roger Williams received an official charter in England in 1644, the word "Hope" was placed over the seal's anchor and still remains. The outer circle of the seal reads Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1636.

The seal has been adopted by successive Rhode Island government authorities since 1644. The current (2009) General Laws enactment asserts:

§ 42-4-2 State seal. – There shall continue to be one seal for the public use of the state; the form of an anchor shall be engraved thereon; the motto thereof shall be the word "Hope"; and in a circle around the outside shall be engraved with the words, "Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1636"

844 Views

Graphical characteristics:
Asymmetric, Closed shape, Colorful, Contains both straight and curved lines, Has no crossing lines.

Category: Emblems.

Seal of Rhode Island is part of the U.S. State Seals group.

More symbols in U.S. State Seals:

More symbols in Emblems:

An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint. Although words emblem and symbol are of… read more »

Have a discussion about Seal of Rhode Island with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this symbol to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Seal of Rhode Island." Symbols.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. <https://www.symbols.com/symbol/seal-of-rhode-island>.

    We need you!

    Are we missing an important symbol in this category?

    Graphical Index

    Use our unique search feature to find a symbol based on its various graphical characteristics:


    • Symmetry:
    • Shape:
    • Colors:
    • Curveness:
    • Crossing:

    Quiz

    Are you a world flags master?

    »
    A Costa Rica
    B Brazil
    C Serbia
    D Philippines