So you ask, why is the right handed dexter on the left side, and the left handed sinister on the right? Its a throwback to when heraldry was used primarily on actual shields, whether in battle or on the tournament field. The shield is to be viewed as if from the bearer of the shield, reversing the directions. Remembering the directions is fairly simple, most people are right handed, making them dexterous on the right hand side. Then think of holding the shield in your hand, and how the sides would be reversed by someone else viewing them. There is also a general rule of charges concerning this:
The center of the shield is divided into thirds as well, but on a vertical axis, as opposed to the chief and base, which are divided on a horizontal axis. These subdivisions are the honor point, the fess or heart point and the nombril or navel point. Use of these terms comes most into play when describing heraldry, which is called blazonry, in fact most of these don't come into play until describing the final parts of a armorial, and are for exact placement of charges or ordinaries. |