Colonial seal

The Colonial seal is the official governmental emblem of the Twelve Colonies, used by both civilian and military authorities.

It consists of a stylized bird with outstretched wings enclosed by a circle. The names of the governmental offices, agencies, and military organization and formations are often incorporated.

Civilian use

Caprican flag.

The seal is present on all Colonial flags.

President Richard Adar's office was adorned by a large seal entitled "Office of the President" ^{(TRS: "Epiphanies")}.

The seal is printed on the seats of Colonial One. It is also present on the hull of the vessel.

The emblem of the Caprica City police also contained the Colonial seal ^{(TRS: "Maelstrom")}.

It is used by the Colonial government on official documents, for example on the execution order President Baltar is forced to sign in "Precipice".

After the exodus from New Caprica, a text-less version of this seal hangs over the blue-colored backdrop cloth partition located in the Quorum meeting room on Colonial One ^{(TRS: "The Ties That Bind")}.

Military use

Galactica's version of the Colonial seal.

Military vessels have emblems with the seal along with their names and battlestar groups. These are also worn as a patch on all uniforms, as a clasp for dress uniforms and on flags. On battlestars the seal is present in the CIC as metal plaque on one of the walls and etched into the glass of the doors. Galactica and Pegasus also sport the seal on their dorsal hulls. The emblem can also be found in several other places all over the ships, such as podiums in meeting and briefing rooms.

On the Viper Mark VII, the seal is printed in white on the upper forward portion of the wings. Some Mark IIs sport the seal near the wingtips.

Like other government agencies, the Colonial Forces used the seal on official documents and correspondence, for example by the Caprican Colonial Forces Veteran's Hospital and other institutions of the Fleet.

The Medal of Distinction and the Medal of Valor both feature the bird symbol as their central element.

Variant

Aaron Doral introduces Commander William Adama to give his speech during the decommissioning ceremony, note the black and yellow flag and podium decoration ^{(TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")}.

A variant, featuring a design element of "ears and tails," is used on dress uniform accoutrements, paperwork watermarks, podiums, and flags.

This design variant is a nod to the Original Series' logos depicted on fire extinguishers and medical kits attached to bulkheads throughout Galactica.

Images

• 
  Presidential seal ^{(TRS: "Epiphanies")}.
• 
  On the seats of Colonial One ^(TRS: "33").
• 
  Seal of the Caprica City police ^{(TRS: "Maelstrom")}.
• 
  On Galactica's hull.
• 
  One of the two seals from Galactica's CIC.
• 
  Galactica's uniform patch.
• 
  Galactica's dress uniform clasp.
• 
  Colonial Forces seal ^{(TRS: "Maelstrom")}.
• 
  Colonial Forces seal ^{(TRS: "The Son Also Rises")}.
• 
  In Pegasus's CIC ^{(TRS: "Pegasus")}.
• 
  The Medal of Distinction with flags in the background^{(TRS: "Hero")}.
• 
  On a Viper Mark II (red area near the wingtip) ^{(TRS: "The Hand of God")}.
• 
  A watermark on paper featuring a variation of the "ears and tails" variant ^{(TRS: "Miniseries, Night 2")}.

Notes

• The bird shown in the Colonial seal highly resembles the Phoenix; a mythical sacred firebird in ancient Greek mythology.
• The seal is displayed at the end the opening credits of Season 1, but replaced with the normal Battlestar Galactica logo in all subsequent seasons.

Original Series definition: marriage

Re-imagined Series definition: nerve center or "bridge" of a battlestar, see: Combat Information Center