Phi Kappa Phi is the initial Greek letters for the society's motto: Philosophia Krateito Photon, “Let the love of learning rule humanity.” The Greek letters in the society's seal have been placed on a globe. The globe symbolizes the fraternal bond among lovers of learning and wisdom united in common purpose around the world. Radiating from the globe is a corona representing rays from the sun—each ray signifies the equivalence of each branch of knowledge represented by Phi Kappa Phi members. Surrounding the sun's rays is a crenellated line. This represented the battlements of the walls of Troy, the ancient Greek city and the technological achievement of ancient Greek culture with its love of learning. Three stars above the line represent the three original chapters, in Maine, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Of course, the date below represents the founding date of Phi Kappa Phi. The ribbon forming a border around the seal is the classic meander pattern common to ancient Greek art.