The Bowen knot is not a true knot

Knot

A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...

, but is rather a heraldic knot

Heraldic knot

A heraldic knot is a knot, unknot, or design incorporating a knot used in European heraldry. While a given knot can be used on more than one family's achievement of arms, the family on whose coat the knot originated usually gives its name to the said knot...

, sometimes used in heraldic designs. It consists of a rope in the form of a continuous loop laid out as an upright square shape with loops at each of the four corners. Since the rope is not actually knotted, it would in topological

Topology

Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...

 terms be considered an unknot

Unknot

The unknot arises in the mathematical theory of knots. Intuitively, the unknot is a closed loop of rope without a knot in it. A knot theorist would describe the unknot as an image of any embedding that can be deformed, i.e. ambient-isotoped, to the standard unknot, i.e. the embedding of the...

.

An angular Bowen knot is such a knot with no rounded sides, so that it appears to be made of five squares. A lozenge-shaped Bowen knot is called a bendwise Bowen knot or a Bowen cross. When used as a symbol (⌘), an ordinary Bowen knot is known as Saint John's Arms

Saint John's Arms

⌘, a square with loops at the corners, which is sometimes referred to as Saint John's Arms, the Place of Interest Sign, or Saint Hannes cross, is an ancient symbol now commonly used throughout Northern Europe.-Ancient use:...

.

The Dacre

Dacre knot

The Dacre knot, a type of decorative unknot, is a heraldic knot used primarily in English heraldry. It is most notable for its appearance on the Dacre family heraldic badge, where its two lower dexter loops entwine a scallop, and it two lower sinister loops entwine a log....

, Hungerford

Hungerford knot

The Hungerford or Hastings knot is a type of decorative unknot, and is a heraldic knot used primarily in English heraldry. It is most notable for its appearance on the Hungerford and Hastings family heraldic badges....

, Lacy

Lacy knot

The Lacy knot is a decorative heraldic knot, the badge of the De Lacy family. It features in the crest of the borough of Burnley....

, Shakespeare

Shakespeare knot

The Shakespeare knot, a type of decorative unknot, is a heraldic knot. It is a derivative of the Bowen knot and closely akin to the Dacre knot. The knot is most notable for its appearance on the Shakespeare badge....

, and Tristram knots are all considered variations of the Bowen knot, and are sometimes blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

ed as such.

Sources

• Glossary including Bowen's Knot.
• Heraldic Templates — Knots.