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Does anyone know what the flames are for in the University of North Da


FightingSiouxnerd

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Short version: UND's official motto is Lux et Lex (By the light of Knowledge, we read the laws of life)

Longer version: The flame, lamp and torch are common symbols of learning and knowledge. As far back as Ancient Greece there are tales linking light and knowledge(Prometheus stealing fire from the gods). In ancient times, oil lamps would be used by those in libraries and monasteries to read and copy books. The worst age of barbarism in European history is commonly known as The Dark Ages. The period of flourishing knowledge following after is sometimes known as The Great Enlightenment(The Renaissance).

Today, a great many colleges and universities use the flame, lamp or torch in their official seals(punch some well-known colleges into Wikipedia to see what I mean). Many colleges also have fountains, squares, statues or other physical representations of the flame on their campuses(do a Google search for "Flame of Knowledge"). There's even a lit torch that graces the top of the dome at the Library of Congress.

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