Het wapen van de familie van Citters c. 1777

This is an undated heraldic representation of the van Citters family crest. At its heart, the crest features a shield with stars, symbols deeply rooted in human history. Consider the motif of the star, so primal it echoes across time. From ancient Babylonian sky charts to the Renaissance allegories of heavenly guidance, stars have illuminated our path, symbolizing fate and divine favor. Here, on the van Citters crest, they may represent the family's aspirations, their guiding principles shining bright. Note the helmet above the shield. In medieval heraldry, helmets were a mark of nobility. This iconography, though varied in style, recalls the classical helmet depicted in ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, emblems of power and protection. These symbols resonate in our collective memory, evoking a sense of valor and ancestral connection that transcends any single culture or era. As we see, the image of the helmet reappears in this family's crest, signifying similar concepts like nobility and military strength. Symbols like these do not exist in isolation. They are part of a non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across diverse historical contexts.