432. And on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold. This symbolically means that they seemed to themselves to be conquerors.

Crowns on their heads like crowns of gold denote the insignia of victory, because kings once wore golden crowns into battle (no. 300); and we are told that they looked like horses, which is to say, riding on horses, prepared for battle (no. 431). For they had the faces of men, as we are told next, and they were caught up in the persuasion that they could not be overcome.

431. Were like horses prepared for battle. This symbolically means that because of their ability to reason, they appeared to themselves to be battling from an understanding of truth founded on the Word.

A horse symbolizes an understanding of the Word (no. 298). The battle symbolizes a spiritual battle, which is waged by reasonings and argumentation (no. 500, 586). Their being like them or likenesses of them signifies their appearance, as in no. 430 just above.