massachusetts State Symbols

The State Seal, adopted by Governor John Hancock and the Council on December 13, 1780 and made official by the General Court on June 4, 1885, bears a representation of the arms of the Commonwealth encircled with the words, "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). The final form of the seal was determined by a statewide contest.

The arms, according to legislative enactment, consist of "a shield having a blue field or surface with an Indian thereon, dressed in a shirt and moccasins, holding in his right hand a bow, and in his left hand an arrow, point downward, all of gold and, in the upper corner of the field, above his right arm, a silver star with five points.

The crest is a wreath of blue and gold, on which in gold is a right arm, bent at the elbow, clothed and ruffled, with the hand grasping a broadsword". The shield's shape is called "Plantagenet" the Native American model used was of the Algonquin nation the arrow points downward to indicate that the Indian is peaceful and the star indicates that Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen states it was sixth. The sword illustrates the Latin motto that is written in gold on a blue ribbon around the bottom of the shield "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem". This is the second of two lines written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician, in the Book of Mottoes in the King's Library in Copenhagen, Denmark.

On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other.

The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states.

Around the shield is a blue ribbon with the motto “By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty". Above the shield is an arm and sword, representing the first part of the motto.