Reyes de armas

[lpwe]

Hi there.

I'm translating a text and have gotten stuck on what "reyes de armas" would be in English. The sentence:

"...empezando por las dos enormes series de salvajes de tamaño natural que custodian a ambos lados la entrada, los soldados y reyes de armas del segundo piso, para terminar con..."

The text is about the facade of a church and here we are just dealing with the description of said facade.

Currently I have translated it as "guardsmen" because it makes sense in context, but I wanted to see if perhaps anyone could confirm this or correct me.

Thanks so much!

[Jessica]

I looked it up in the dictionary...
reyes means kings
armas means bombs
so it MIGHT mean kings' bombs but I don't think it makes sense in your text.
No wait, it doesn't. Here's the translation of the whole text:
"... starting with the two sets of huge wild life-size on both sides that guard the entrance, soldiers and kings of arms of the second floor, to end ..."
so reyes de armas means kings of arms....

[Satyr]

yes jchen... but kings of arms doesn't make much sense in English. Lpwe is looking for a more natural sounding translation.

I found the definition on RAE. Still not sure exactly how to translate to English though. LOL. royal messenger? a Knight?

rey de armas. 1. m. Caballero que en las cortes de la Edad Media tenía el cargo de transmitir mensajes de importancia, ordenar las grandes ceremonias y llevar los registros de la nobleza de la nación.
2. m. Persona que tiene cargo y oficio de conocer y ordenar los blasones de las familias nobles.

[Rusty]

Kings of Arms is the correct translation.

[Satyr]

King of Arms is a legitimate rank in English. However, the definition seems to differ from that of a "rey de armas".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Arms


WOOT! while making this post I think I found your answer!!!!

Herald of Arms seems to be the correct translation to English.

"Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to convey messages or proclamations."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herald

[Jessica]

well it says reyes de armas so it must be Heralds of Arms. I agree, Kings of Arms doesn't make sense.......well I'm not sure what the correct translation is.
:P

[Planet hopper]

Beefeaters in England?
Just to pick out a more general approach to the word, as a guard of any object, armed...

Rey de armas is at a pretty technical (jargon) level. I would suggest centinelas / guardas as a more communicative option.

[Tomisimo]

I'm not very familiar with this field, but I would say Rey de Armas = King of Arms. "Herald of Arms" actually just means Herald, or Heraldo. But then again, I could be wrong.

[sosia]

Agree with Satyr
Wikipedia:

King of Arms is the senior rank of an officer of arms. In many heraldic traditions, only a king of arms has the authority to grant armorial bearings. In other traditions, the power has been delegated to other officers of similar rank.

We have a "king of arms" of the Royal Family
Rey de armas Familia Real
So the translation of "Rey de armas" should be "Kings of arms"
But usually there was only one or two in every Kingdom, so here, in "los soldados y reyes de armas del segundo piso," perhaps must be "officer of arms" version.
Saludos

[Jessica]

I knew it. It is The King of Arms

[Tomisimo]

I think depending on context, it could be either King of Arms or Herald (of Arms). (As others have already said.)

[Vikingo]

Is.. THIS your church?

[Jessica]

well what is the final correct meaning of it? Or can it be both?

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by jchen

I knew it. It is The King of Arms

KUDOS Jessica!

[Jessica]

What is "KUDOS" ?

[Elaina]

Well, "kudos" is not a spanish word so I guess I can tell you, otherwise I would ask you to do research.....

praise or honor: praise, credit, or glory for an achievement ( takes a singular verb )

What I meant was that you did well in translating "king of arms".

[sosia]

It's not spanish, tt's a greek word used by english people.
wikipedia

Kudos (pronounced /ˈkjuːdɒs/, often /ˈkuːdoʊz/), from the Greek κῦδος (not to be confused with κύδος "taunt"), kydos, (literally "that which is heard of") means "fame" and "renown" resulting from an act or achievement. Extending "kudos" to another individual is often done as a praising remark. It entered English as British university slang in the early 1800s. In Standard British English, as in Greek, Kudos is a singular and not a plural noun, and is used exclusively as such in Britain. However, in common use in the US the noun is often plural: She received many kudos ['ku:doʊz] for her work.

saludos

[lpwe]

Thanks everybody. I have done a little more research, guided by your suggestions, and I think that "Chief Herald" and "King of Arms" is the same term, just depends which country you're in! I do appreciate you guys taking time out to help me. Cheers!

Originally Posted by Vikingo

Is.. THIS your church?

No it wasn't my church. Mine's in Valladolid.