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Acta Periodica Duellatorum, Conference Proceedings
125

The lion is obviously the king of beasts, and as such is most closely associated
with symbols of the Christ. It is slow to anger and kills only out of necessity.
18
If the animal symbolism does not really help much, what about the devices and key
words?

Prudentia is derived from pro-videntia, or foresight, anticipation. The lynx is
represented
with
a
compass,
an
instrument
of
study
and
science,
of
discernment and of course of distance. The symbol is placed at the head of the
person, indicating the rational aspect of skill.
19

Fortitudo can be understood in several ways; initially, it means “strength,
courage,
fortitude”.
But the
symbolism
of
the
elephant
bearing a
castle
suggests a more basic meaning, in the sense of steadfastness, grounding. The
positioning of the symbol at the feet of the figure could emphasise the
importance of a stable stance, so critical to wrestling, and by extension expand
the meaning to “secure your base”.
20

Celeritas means speed; but the choice of the tiger suggests a certain quality to
the speed. In some cases the tiger is presented holding a lightning bolt, an
object with obvious connotations of a fast, devastating and unexpected blow.
The additional flavour of celeritas is “facility, wit” – an ability to react, rapidly
apply a skill, and to apply it competently, confidently and with assurance. The
symbol is on the right hand of the figure, typically the primary sword arm.
21

Audatia translates as “audaciousness, daring” – as the Roman proverb says:
Audaces fortuna iuvat.
22
It is the necessary courage to seize an opportunity. The
image is placed to the left of the figure, on the side of his heart, indicating the
instinctive, not ratio-mediated element of the skill; supporting this, the lion also
holds a heart in his paw.
23
While the Zettel’s concepts are more dynamic, referring to the constantly shifting fight
situation as a factor of time, Fiore’s concepts are more static: Skills to be learnt and
17
<http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast131.htm> [queried 15 May 2017].
18
<http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast78.htm> [queried 15 May 2017].
19
See Clausewitz, Book 3, Chapter 15: Geometrisches Element (On the Geometric Element). The
geometrical element of course also evokes the lines and circles seen in Joachim Meyer’s diagrams,
but particularly prominent in the fight books of the verdadera destreza and the hapless Gérard
Thibault: Majár/Várhelyi, Thibault.
20
See Clausewitz, Book 3, Chapter 7: Beharrlichkeit (On Perseverance) or the importance of
securing your base, Book 5, Chapter 15, Operationsbasis (Base of Operations).
21
See Clausewitz, Book 3, Chapter 10: Die List (On Cunning).
22
Fortune favours the daring.
23
See Clausewitz, Book 3, Chapter 6: Die Kühnheit (On Daring) and Chapter 9: Die Überraschung
(On Surprise).