The owl, facts and myths, symbolism of owls across world cultures

The owl, facts and myths

For centuries humans dreamed of taking to the air. This desire caused enormous interest in everything that flies. Among birds, there was one that aroused only negative feelings. It was the owl.

Excellent eyesight, which allowed them to lead a nocturnal life, and superb hearing earned owls the title of „all knowing”. And since they knew everything, it was assumed they could also know the future.

Owls in ancient cultures

Most often the owl was considered a symbol of death and the world of the dead. In Egypt, it was believed that owls were messengers of the god Ra, foretelling death. To the Egyptians, this bird was associated with night, cold and passivity.

In the Middle East, people believed that the owl destroyed what is good and happy. If it appeared before going to war, one should expect a bloody battle in which many soldiers would die. They believed that the souls of the unavenged dead were trapped in owls. A wailing owl in a cemetery meant the deceased awaited revenge, and when it fell silent, it was a sign that the person had found peace.

Owls in Polish and Asian culture

This motif also runs through our culture. Adam Mickiewicz used it in Part 2 of „Forefathers’ Eve” (Dziady), where an owl was the soul of a woman who died because a wealthy nobleman refused to help her.

In China, these birds were associated with the storm god, and in Japan they brought famine and plague. In both countries, owl figurines were placed as protection against disease and want.

The ancient inhabitants of what is now Germany believed that eggs laid on a farm foretold the death of its residents. Stories told of owls kidnapping children at night and casting illness upon them.

The owl’s call as an evil omen

You did not have to see an owl to be terrified, hearing one was enough. The very sound was spine chilling. The hooting and cries were unpleasant to the ear, so it is no wonder they became an ill omen. They were thought to be voices from beyond the grave, demanding a new soul. An owl that settled on a church tower and made terrible sounds gave many a parish priest a heart attack at the thought that the building was possessed by evil forces.

In India, fortunes were told from the number of hoots. The most feared was a single cry, which foretold death, while the most fortunate was nine, a prophecy of happiness.

The owl as a symbol of wisdom

The Greeks were among the few who did not fear owls. The belief in their intelligence made these birds the patron of Athena, goddess of wisdom.

The belief that owls foretold death contributed to their mass killing. It was believed that a dead bird provided protection, scared away ghosts and guarded against death and lightning. Among other reasons, this is why owls are now endangered.

The most famous owl in the world

If you asked someone about the most famous owl in the world, what would they say? Probably „Hedwig”. The main owl character from the Harry Potter series, without whom our famous wizard could not have sent a single letter! It was a snowy owl, and interestingly, only males have such pure white plumage, which means that in reality it was Hedwig (a male)!