This subject came up while identifying silver maker's marks. (Because, y'know … it was Friday.) Rampant, passant, courant …
I guess when you don't have television, going to great lengths in defining how heraldic critters are standing, sitting, leaping, piercing their breasts, etc., is better than just watching the tapestries moulder.
Attitude (heraldry) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In heraldry, an attitude is the position in which an animal, fictional beast, mythical creature, human or human-like being is emblazoned as a charge, supporter or crest. Many attitudes apply only to predatory beasts and are exemplified by the beast most frequently found in heraldry — the lion.
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It wasn’t just a hobby. An armoured man’s coat of arms was often the only way of identifying him at a distance. Rather like a vehicle license plate.
Fair enough, @David — though I suspect that a lot of the finer details and nomenclature were more “hobby” in nature (it’s enough to know that “Sir Fred is the guy with the red shield with a lion on it” — not that the lion is rampant vs being couchant).