The Mystery Of Owls: Part 2 - Their Symbolism Around The World

On the one hand, owls are known for representing wisdom and haunting elegance, but on the other hand, some say they embody secrecy and treachery. Let’s take a trip around the world and through time to see what owls symbolize in different cultures:

1. Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians thought of owls as a representation of great intuition and mystic abilities. They respected this nocturnal bird and celebrated everything that makes an owl an adept hunter: its great eyesight, impeccable hearing and quiet demeanor. Due to these amazing skills, the Egyptians believed the winged creatures were the gatekeepers of the underworld; not to be messed with.

2. Ancient Greece

The Greek goddess Athena was always associated with the owl in Ancient Greece, as it represented wisdom and eloquence, but also courage and strength. The wise bird’s traits were often linked to Athena’s own character as if they were one. Of course, since the goddess of wisdom and courage was worshipped, so was her faithful feathered friend. Owls were also featured on coins as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.

3. Japan

The owl in Japan represents luck. In Japanese, the word for owl is fukuru, which can also be interpreted as luck. Owl depictions overrun the country in the form of stickers, figurines and even charms. Since they represent luck, owl charms are very popular and are thought to bring great fortune to the person wearing it.

4. The Americas

Many Native American cultures have varied beliefs about what the owl represents. In some tribes, owls are sacred creatures that are often associated with gods. In others, they are malicious and should be avoided at all costs. Either way, they’re of great importance to these cultures.

Whether they are believed to be sacred helpers or vicious destroyers, one thing is for sure: owls have held power over humans since the ancient times. They likely always will. If you’re interested to learn more about mysterious creatures, feel free to browse through our online library www.plotive.com for the content you’re looking for.