Animal Wisdom

Animals as symbols have been interwoven into the fabric of religious belief in both the ancient and the modern world. This book looks at 67 animal species in the context of mythology and folklore from a range of cultures. Entries begin with animal biology, behaviour and habitat, then explore associated myths, rituals and rites, and magical and medicinal power.

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Animals as symbols have been interwoven into the fabric of religious belief in both the ancient and the modern world. Evidence of early humans' preoccupation with animals is found in the cave paintings of southern France and in the stone reliefs of Egyptian temples. The Greek and Roman pantheons maintained an association between the gods and the animals, with deities who could assume animal form. The Celts attributed magic to the animals themselves, seeking wisdom from them without divine intermediaries. The mythic qualities ascribed to animals are so universal that Karl Jung considered them a part of man's collective unconscious or cultural memory. This book looks at 67 animal species in the context of mythology and folklore from a range of cultures. Entries begin with animal biology, behavior and habitat, then explore associated myths, rituals and rites, and magical and medicinal power.