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Straight or flaming rays radiating between the arms of a decoration.
Also known as: Rays on a medal, Radiant rays, Sunburst
Rays filling the angles between a cross's arms, or radiating from a central medallion. Almost purely a design device — it makes a decoration catch the light and read at distance — and one of the clearest cases where a motif carries no meaning at all.
Straight, faceted or flame-like rays radiating outward from the centre of a decoration, commonly filling the angles between the arms of a cross.
Contexts: History
Largely a design device: faceted rays catch the light and make a decoration legible at a distance, which is what a breast star is for. Where a system publishes a symbolism for its rays it is recorded on that award's own page rather than generalised.
One of the clearest cases in award design of a motif that is present for visual reasons. Sources assigning rays a universal meaning are inventing one.
Groups of narrow tapering rays radiating outward from a central point, filling the spaces between the arms of a cross or surrounding a medallion.