Herald (Germ. Herold). An officer of arms. The heralds of England were incorporated by Richard III. The college now consists of three kings of arms, six heralds, and four pursuivants. The office of Earl Marshal, the supreme head of the English heralds, is hereditary in the family of the Duke of Norfolk. There is another herald king styled “Bath,” who is specially attached to that order; he is not a member of the college. The chief herald of Scotland is styled Lord Lyon King of Arms; that of Ireland, Ulster King of Arms. Chester herald is mentioned in the reign of Richard II., Lancaster king of arms under Henry IV. (See Marshal, Kings of Arms, &c.)
Heralds’ College. A college of heralds was instituted in Rome by Numa Pompilius, and the office was held sacred among the most ancient Oriental nations. The institution was imported into England in the Middle Ages from Germany, a corporation of heralds, similar to the collegium fetialium of Rome, having been established in England in 1483 by Richard III. (See Pitiscus, tom. i., and Hofmann, tom. ii.)
Hermæ, Gr. and R. (Ἑρμαῖ). Hermæ, a kind of pedestals surmounted only by the head, or, in some cases, the bust of Hermes. Great reverence was felt for these statues. Houses at Athens had one before the doors; they were also placed in front of temples, near tombs, at street corners, or as mile-stones on the high roads. Hermuli, or small Hermæ, were a common ornament of furniture, as pilasters and supports. The same name is applied to similar statues having a man’s head. This statue was probably one of the first attempts of art at plastic representation. The phallus and a pointed beard originally were essential parts of the symbol. In place of arms there were projections to hang garlands on. Then a mantle was introduced from the shoulders. Afterwards the whole torso was placed above the pillar; and finally the pillar itself was shaped into a perfect statue. All these gradations of the sculptor’s art are traceable in existing monuments.
Hermæa. Festivals of Hermes, celebrated by the boys in the gymnasia, of which Hermes was the tutelary deity.
Hermeneutæ, Chr. (ἑρμηνευταί). Literally, interpreters. In the earliest ages of the Church, these were officials whose duty it was to translate sacred discourses or portions of Holy Scripture.
Herne-pan, O. E. (for iron-pan). Skull-cap worn under the helmet.
Heroum, Gr. (ἡρῷον, i. e. place of a hero). A kind of Ædicula (q.v.), or small temple, which served as a funeral monument. Several representations of Roman Heroa may be seen in the British Museum, representing funeral feasts in a temple, carved on the face of a sarcophagus (in the Towneley collection).
Herring-bone Masonry. Common in late Roman or early Saxon walls, where the ornamental lines take a sloping, parallel, zigzag direction.
Herygoud, O. E. A cloak with hanging sleeves.
Heuk or Huque, O. E. (1) Originally a cloak or mantle worn in the Middle Ages; then (2) a tight-fitting dress worn by both sexes. (Fairholt; see also Planché, Encyclopædia.) There appears to be great uncertainty as to the character of this garment.