Ad utrumque paratus
Encyclopedia
Ad utrumque paratus, sometimes shortened to ad utrumque, is Latin
for "Ready for either alternative" or "Prepared for both" and is a sentence attributed to Virgil
. It is used as a motto
on the seal of Lund University
. It is also used as the motto
of the Spanish Navy
Submarine force. The motto
is also inscribed at the entrance of the Submarine School building in Cartagena's Naval Station, Murcia, Spain. The beginning (Ad utrumque) was also used as personal motto by the Spanish Monarchs in the 17th Century.
Lund University was established in 1666 in the Swedish province Skåne which until 1658 was a Danish
province. Thus the students at the university should be prepared for both the book and the sword – to study and to defend the country in times of war. The lion in Lund University's seal holds a book in one hand, and a sword in the other.
The French commune Monistrol-sur-Loire
uses the same sentence on its escutcheon but the motif is a sword and a crosier
. This suggests that utrumque (‘both’), may in that case refer to fighting and preaching.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "Ready for either alternative" or "Prepared for both" and is a sentence attributed to Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
. It is used as a motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
on the seal of Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
. It is also used as the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
Submarine force. The motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is also inscribed at the entrance of the Submarine School building in Cartagena's Naval Station, Murcia, Spain. The beginning (Ad utrumque) was also used as personal motto by the Spanish Monarchs in the 17th Century.
Lund University was established in 1666 in the Swedish province Skåne which until 1658 was a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
province. Thus the students at the university should be prepared for both the book and the sword – to study and to defend the country in times of war. The lion in Lund University's seal holds a book in one hand, and a sword in the other.
The French commune Monistrol-sur-Loire
Monistrol-sur-Loire
Monistrol-sur-Loire is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.It is the birthplace of former Roman Catholic archbishop Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel-See also:*Communes of the Haute-Loire department...
uses the same sentence on its escutcheon but the motif is a sword and a crosier
Crosier
A crosier is the stylized staff of office carried by high-ranking Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran and Pentecostal prelates...
. This suggests that utrumque (‘both’), may in that case refer to fighting and preaching.