Yale (mythical creature)

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St John's College, Cambridge with the yales serving as supporters flanking the arms above the gate.

Heraldic image of a Yale.

The yale (also "centicore", Latin "eale") is a mythical beast found in European mythology. Most descriptions make it an antelope- or goat-like four-legged creature with large horns that it can swivel in any direction.

The name might be derived from Hebrew "yael", meaning "mountain goat".

The yale was first written about by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History. The creature passed into medieval bestiaries and heraldry, where it represents proud defense. It was used by the British Royal Family as a supporter for the arms of John, Duke of Bedford, and by England's Beaufort family. Margaret Beaufort's yale supporters can be seen over the gateways of Cambridge's Christ's College and St. John's College. There are also yales on the roof of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

In modern times, the yale has been used in some of the heraldry asscociated with Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Although the University has adopted the bulldog as its primary mascot, yales can be seen above the gateway to Yale's Davenport College and are also depicted on one of the banners used as part of commencement exercises each spring.