53348/A

B 1/23

The coat of arms of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London is set within a rectangular border. The central shield shows Apollo, the god of light and healing, with a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right. He stands over the defeated dragon Python. Two unicorns support the shield on either side. Above the helmet, a rhinoceros serves as the crest. A scroll at the bottom displays the motto: I am called a helper throughout the world. original: "OPIFERQUE PER ORBEM DICOR"

Society of Apothecaries.

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Society of Apothecaries: A livery company in London incorporated in 1617. It regulated the trade of pharmacists and the preparation of medicines.
Apollo: The Greek and Roman god associated with the sun, music, and the art of healing.
Python: In mythology, a serpent or dragon killed by Apollo. In this context, it represents the conquest of disease.
rhinoceros: This animal was a rare sight in seventeenth century Europe. Its horn was traditionally believed to have medicinal properties, particularly as an antidote to poison.
heraldry: The system of designing and granting coats of arms to identify individuals or institutions.
Opiferque per orbem dicor: A Latin phrase from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It refers to Apollo’s role as the inventor of medicine and a helper to humanity.