It is probably no secret to anyone that it has been so since ancient times - each animal has its own meaning, each animal means something. Not without reason, even in literary works (we recall at least the fables of Ivan Andreevich Krylov), the fox is a cunning, the crow is stupid, the wolf is cowardly and so on. And why are these characteristics attributed to them? And in general, what kind of animals have symbolism?
Where do the legs grow from
Why did all of a sudden animals start to mean something? Where did all these allegories come from? The thing is that from ancient times the life of man (including primitive) in all its manifestations was closely connected with the animal world, one might even say - inextricably linked. So it was before, so it is now. It is no coincidence that we often call animals “our smaller brothers” - they are really everywhere present in human life: in signs, legends, tales, myths, religious beliefs and so on. Even in the sky - even animals! The word "zodiac", by the way, is translated from ancient Greek as "animal".
In certain peoples, certain animals are considered sacred (more on this will be described later). In general, it is clear that the lives of animals and humans are intertwined as closely as one can imagine. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was the animals that began to personify certain qualities that they wanted or would not want to be endowed with; began to personify moral and spiritual phenomena. It is no coincidence that in myths the gods necessarily had animal symbols - this means that each god possessed or wished to possess specifically the quality that was inherent in the animal he chose. It is noteworthy that often one beast could have far more than one meaning: for example, everyone knows a fox as a savvy cunning, but in some places she is also credited with wisdom (and, surprisingly, on the contrary, stupidity). Next, we will talk in more detail about the symbolism of animals.
A fox
Since she’s already been mentioned twice, it’s probably worth starting with her. So, the fox, as mentioned above, usually appears as a very dexterous, sneaky person, possessing a fair amount of cunning, coupled with treachery, extraordinary patience, incredible egoism and terrible hypocrisy. With all this, she is also smart enough, and often she is also credited with such characteristics as revenge and cowardice / caution. Surely everyone at least once in their life heard someone called a fox: "Well, you and a fox!" This can be said both in the meaning, for example, "well, you are a sly", and "well, you are a sneak."
Often the concept of falsity is associated with the fox, in addition, in some peoples the fox is a sorceress, a sorceress. So, for example, among the Chinese in fairy tales, a fox, having lived to be a hundred years old, turns into a sorcerer, and having exceeded a millennium, he generally goes to heaven and becomes a celestial fox. In many tales of the same Chinese, Siberians, North Americans, the red cheat on the full moon becomes a woman, which also indicates her magical abilities, but only of an evil, demonic character (good sorcerers and wizards do not change their appearance, since they do not need to hide their true appearance). Related to this is the significance of the fox as the embodiment of the soul of the deceased (developed in China). The Chinese, like the Japanese, generally endowed it with a huge variety of qualities - while Europeans declared it only cunning and treacherous, then for the above-mentioned peoples it also became a symbol of eroticism and seduction. But in fairness it is worth noting that there are exceptions to the usual perception of the fox as an evil and insidious trickster. So, among the Indians of California, the silver fox is a national hero, and among the Japanese, the white fox is generally the sacred animal of the rice god Inari.
Horse / horse
We figured out the fox, but what does the horse (or horse) symbolize? Since ancient times, he, along with a dog, is considered one of the best and most faithful friends of a person, his devoted assistant. It has infinitely many meanings: it is courage, and grace, and endurance, and intelligence, and wisdom, and strength, and fertility, and nobility. The horse is both a symbol of life and death. All gods had horses harnessed to chariots, symbolizing light, life, they are messengers of the gods. But at the same time, in many traditions, horses are funeral animals on which the souls of the dead go to the afterlife. For example, an interesting tradition existed among the Slavs: if a deceased person had a horse, he was killed and buried with the owner so that the latter’s soul would fly on a horse to the kingdom of the dead. Equally important is the color of the horse - black means death, white means life. However, sometimes the white horse denotes just otherworldly forces: for example, on Russian icons the white horse is a symbol of incorporeal creatures.
Two other interesting meanings of the horse are passion and the ability to predict. The latter was often played out in fairy tales and legends, for example, among the Grimm brothers. And in Ancient Greece, the image of a horse was taken by Poseidon - the god of the sea, the ruler of earthquakes and springs.
The horse is worshiped by many Indian tribes. This has been common since the time of the famous Spanish conqueror Cortes. He left the wounded horse to the Indians so that they would go out; the Indians promised to take care of the animal, but had not met horses before, and therefore did not know how to care for them, and fed Cortez's horse meat. Of course, the horse died, and the frightened Indians made a stone copy of it, worshiping which, they begged forgiveness for themselves.
Here are some more meanings of this animal: a circled horse symbolizes power, a winged horse - poetry, and a laden horse - like a donkey - a human burden and the frailty of our being.
Owl
What does the owl symbolize? The first thing that comes to mind is wisdom. It is with this epithet that it is most often mentioned - a wise owl. It is no coincidence that various intellectual clubs and circles as an emblem, logo often choose the image of this bird - all-knowing and erudite. An owl is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, so it is considered from time immemorial. In mythology, she was a symbol of the goddess Athena - a wise warrior. In addition to wisdom, the bird is also credited with a prophetic gift - often it becomes a harbinger of certain events. This is a very delicate and understanding bird, prone to the same attacks of melancholy. And the appearance of the owl, the habit of watching without blinking, piercing yellow eyes, no less piercing laryngeal cry and complete noiselessness led to the fact that the owl began to be associated with death. So, answering the question about what the owl symbolizes, you can, in addition to the above, add: darkness, darkness, death. A similar meaning, as well as the meaning of loneliness, despondency, despair, is typical for countries such as Japan, China, India, North America, Ancient Egypt.
In many nationalities, an owl is not just a prophet, but a harbinger of misfortune, misfortune, possibly even death, a devil bird tamed by witches and sorcerers (by the way, they themselves are able to take on an owl guise). It is interesting to recall the series of books about Harry Potter by the British writer Joan Rowling, which relied heavily on various beliefs and rituals: owls in the magical world of Harry Potter are peculiar postmen, bringing letters to the magicians with good content (for example, for enrollment in the Hogwarts school), and not very good (for example, for expulsion from it). It is this representative of the fauna that is the favorite pet and assistant for magicians, but it cannot be said that only evil sorcerers and sorceresses own it: for example, the owl of the protagonist, a positive character, is very positive.
Returning to the symbolism of animals, we must also add that in Christianity, an owl, in addition to all of the above, also signified solitude, loneliness. Often it was mentioned in the same row with hermits, moreover with praying hermits. And the owl was attributed the values ​​of a widow, an old maid and a keeper of underground treasures. Thus, one cannot categorically say that an owl is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. This image has a ton of other interesting meanings.
Turtle
Now let's talk about what the turtle symbolizes. Like an owl, it is a symbol of wisdom. And also - strength, eternity and stability (it's time to recall the ancient belief in a flat earth, which is on its back is held by a turtle). This animal is associated in many nations with immortality and the very creation of the world. What the turtle symbolizes is fertility and extension of the genus. In China, she, for example, is a fortuneteller, a spiritually gifted creature (there are four of them - a dragon, qilin and phoenix), a long-liver (the latter value is also characteristic of Japan). Turtle is a symbol of strength, endurance, patience, hard work and perseverance. No wonder many warriors and rulers of different nations chose it as an emblem - it symbolized their slowness, but self-confidence.
Christians also endowed the turtle with the meaning of decency and fidelity: it denoted a woman living in a marriage, like a tortoise in its shell. And among African peoples, the animal, on the contrary, was a male symbol - it meant male fertility (Africans identified this representative of the reptile detachment with the male genital organ). And the turtle symbolizes invulnerability and security - it is not so easy to get to the one who is on the shell!
Cow
Many are interested in why a cow is a sacred animal in India. This question will certainly be answered a little later, but for now just talk about the value of this animal. In all countries of the world, among all nations, the cow is primarily a symbol of motherhood (as it gives milk), as well as fertility and prosperity.
In mythology, the burenka symbolizes the bosom of Mother Earth, where everything that exists on it is hatched. The symbolism of the animal among the Egyptians is the vital warmth, among the Slavs - the heavenly mother, who milk her land with milk. Also, a cow stands for patience and endurance.
Eagle
It is not difficult to guess what the eagle symbolizes - one of the most ancient symbols. Victory, strength and spirit, courage and power, freedom and power - these are far from all the meanings of this animal. By the way, the significance of the double-headed eagle is also connected with power - this is a symbol of strengthening power. In addition, the eagle is considered a royal bird, symbolizing a noble origin.
The ancient Greeks identified it with the Sun, because it soars in the sky as high and free as this star. It was believed, in addition, that only the eagle is able to fly to the sun, that only he can control the sun without blinking. And it is this bird that flies among thunder and lightning, which marks genuine courage and fearlessness. Among Christians, in addition to the foregoing, the eagle is compared with Christ - its flight is a symbol of Christ's Resurrection, the bird is considered a messenger of heaven.
Bear
It has long been customary that clumsy people are named for the clubfoot resident of the forest. “Well, a bear!” We say, if someone stamped loudly, broke a cup or did not fit into the rotation. The meaning of clumsiness is the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning this animal. However, what the bear symbolizes, besides this, is good nature. In many tales, legends, and beliefs of different nations, he appears to be a good-natured bumpkin, a lover of sleep, eat raspberries and suck a paw. However, the image of the bear lacks contradictions - it is often associated with anger, rage, and mortal danger.
Another meaning of a bear is courage, strength. In addition, Potapych also symbolizes the beginning of a new life - because in spring they come out of hibernation and seem to begin to live in a new way. This is a symbol of change for good, and also endurance and patience. For the Indians of America, the bear is a symbol of supernatural power, for the Chinese - courage, for the Japanese - goodwill. In Russia, a brown bear is a national symbol, and among many of our Slavic ancestors it was a totem animal.
a lion
Everyone knows: the lion is the king of animals. It is the royal (and generally higher) power, nobility, aristocracy that marks this animal. Leo is a symbol of courage, fearlessness, courage. It means honor, strength, greatness. But the lioness symbolizes motherhood and infinite love. In many nations, she is revered as a mother goddess. And Buddhists believe that Buddha used just a lion as one of his guises. The traits of this animal were often used in portraying other, mythical characters to endow them with the qualities inherent in a lion (for example, sphinxes or chimeras).
In the Middle Ages, people endowed the king of animals with the ability to sleep with their eyes open, which is why the lion is a symbol of the watchful eye, the vigilant eternal guardian. Like a bear, this is a controversial figure - on the one hand, Christians saw in him the personification of the Son of God, and on the other - devilish forces, because the devil wants to devour human virtue with the same strength that a lion seeks to catch prey.
Dove
What symbolizes the dove, probably everyone knows. A symbol of peace and kindness, love, friendship, sincerity - this is what this seemingly simple bird bears in itself. The common expression "pigeon fidelity" also appeared for a reason - a pair of doves denotes marital fidelity and eternal love. A lot of legends, legends, stories and even songs are composed about the pigeon as a symbol of peace (remember at least Scorpions and their White Dove - “White Pigeon”).
Among Christians, among other things, the dove also denotes the Holy Spirit. This bird, in principle, symbolizes an indestructible connection with the soul, as well as the transition from one state to another. The dove is a mediator between the earth and the sky, he is the messenger of the gods. In the countries of the East for a long time the killing of pigeons was considered the highest sin.
Wolf
Cowardly and narrow-minded are the first epithets that pop up in the head, if necessary, to reveal the meaning of the wolf. In almost all fairy tales, the wolf appears to be just that, and also a loser and inconsiderate, with whom something always happens (you don’t need to go far for an example - the wonderful Soviet cartoon “Wait a minute!” Is his model).
However, there are other animal symbols. For example, caution, vigilance - this is exactly what they put in the image of a wolf when they use it on the arms. Another wolf is a symbol of protection and reliability ("Mowgli"), but also insidiousness, anger and rage. In many nations, the wolf is the progenitor, and in some myths it is he who accompanies souls to another world. The Romans worshiped the wolf as the sacred animal of Mars; for them, as for the ancient Greeks, he signified victory and valor. But the Christian animal was perceived as a devil, encroaching on the souls of believers. They attributed to him the meanings of cruelty and evil.
Hare
If we are talking about the wolf, how can I not say a few words about the hare and what it symbolizes? If the eagle, for example, is compared with the sun, then the hare, on the contrary, is identified with the moon: ancient people distinguished galloping hares in the spots on the moon. Or rabbits, which, in general, doesn’t matter. The symbol of the hare is fecundity, dexterity, magical power, as well as excessive self-confidence and bragging.
Among the ancient Romans and Greeks, the scythe was considered an animal of Aphrodite / Venus, Eros / Cupid and Hermes / Mercury, who used it as a messenger. And among many peoples of the world, hares, known for their frequent reproduction, denote the female reproduction process (for example, among the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Celts, Indians, and so on). But among the Jews, the hare / rabbit symbolizes wickedness and lust, which is perhaps partly why the meaning of the hare in Christianity is lust. However, thanks to the ability of the animal to quickly jump, roguish and sweeping tracks, Christians identify it with a believing person, who is restless and seeks salvation in God.
What animals are sacred in which countries
It’s not a secret to anyone that some peoples especially revere any particular animals. But which ones and why?
Egyptians, for example, especially revered cats - since ancient times. In ancient times, it was possible to lose a life by accidentally or intentionally killing a cat, and causing damage to it, it was easy to suffer yourself. All kinds of honors were given to cats, because, firstly, they exterminated rodents, and secondly, they were a symbol of the goddess Bast - a woman with a cat's head.
Let's get back to the question of why a cow is a sacred animal in India. The fact is that the Indians consider it a symbol of a planet that provides food and life in general. That is why this animal can neither be eaten nor killed, and it should be revered no less than the mother. And among the Japanese, in Nara Prefecture, deers are venerated more than other animals - according to an old legend, it was on the back of this noble animal that Buddha arrived at his temple, located here. What other sacred animals in which countries? Sheep - in Madagascar. Locals believe that the souls of deceased ancestors settle in these lovely bleating artiodactyls. Therefore, it is impossible to eat a sheep on this island. But Thais worship elephants. These animals have a special symbolism in this country - Thais believe that elephants are endowed with a magical gift. In addition, it is a symbol of peace and great power.
Of course, this is only a small fraction of animals and their meanings. However, you can learn a lot of new and interesting information about these representatives of the fauna.