Since the dawn of time, humans have always looked at owls with fascination and awe. These birds have a strange aura that makes them very difficult to ignore. They have large, piercing eyes, fly at night, and can turn their heads over 270 degrees! Unsurprisingly, ancient and modern civilizations have made up various myths and legends to explain the behaviour of these creatures.
In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through these civilizations and explore the mythical meaning of owls around the world.
Owls in Norse Mythology
We’ll start our journey in the land of the Vikings. It is rather surprising that owls—a bird often steeped in mystery and symbolism in other cultures—barely make an appearance in Norse mythology.
We know that the ancient Northmen were familiar with Owls because there is an old Nordic word for it (Ugla). However, they did not think they deserved the attention they paid to other animals like wolves and ravens. For the most part, owls are ignored in the Norse Legends.
The few appearances of Owls in ancient Scandinavia are Images carved on random boats and weapons. The meaning of these carvings is unknown, but they were most likely associated with protection.
Read Also: 10 Fascinating Nordic Symbols and their Spiritual meaning.
Meaning of Owls in Celtic Mythology
For the Celtic people, the Owl is a sinister creature that symbolizes death, the underworld and rebirth. The old Celtic word for owls was scréachóg reilige‘, which means “shrill graveyard bird”. They believed that when a person dies, the Owl guides the soul to the underworld.
The Celts also associated the ability of the Owl to see at night with divine wisdom. According to these beliefs, keeping the Owl as a pet will help you identify those who have evil intentions against you.
In the ancient Celtic story of Blodeuwed, we get another idea of what the Owl meant to the Celts. In the story, Blodeuwed is an unfaithful woman who unsuccessfully tries to murder her husband. Her plans fall through as punishment; a magician turns her into an owl and proclaims,
You will not dare to show your face ever again in the light of day ever again, and that will be because of enmity between you and all other birds. It will be in their nature to harass and despise you wherever they find you.”
3. Owls in Irish Mythology
The Irish are descendants of the ancient Celts, so it is no wonder that the Irish mythology about owls is a little similar to the Celtic ones. According to Irish folklore, owls were messengers from the underworld, and seeing an owl at any time of the day foretells death. Owls were also associated with witchcraft and sorcery.
Historians have even suggested that the famous Irish legend of the Banshee was inspired by barn owls, notorious for their eerie screams in the middle of the night.
Owls in Greek Mythology
For the ancient Greeks, the Owl was the sacred bird of Athena, the god of wisdom and war. According to the stories, Athena originally favoured the raven which was also very intelligent. However, the raven was very playful, and Athena soon grew tired of his shenanigans. She finally decided to get rid of the raven and replace it with the Owl, which was more stoic in its demeanour.
The Owl of Athena (Athene Noctua) was the utmost embodiment of wisdom in Greek mythology. Its night vision, excellent hunting prowers, and its unique ability to turn its head made it highly respected in Greek city-states.
Atenes was particularly fond of the Owl. Its image was engraved on verses, weights, amphoras and even on the tetradrums up to 510 BC.
In an orally transmitted fable of Aesop (Greek storyteller), a wise owl advises the birds to destroy the mistletoe before it spreads its deadly poison.
Owls also held great significance in military engagements. For soldiers, seeing an owl before going into battle was a sign of Athena’s blessings and a guarantee of victory in war.
It is believed that Athena led the Athen soldiers at the Battle of Marathon in the form of an owl.
Meaning of Owls in Roman Mythology
The Romans believed the Owl to be a prophetic animal that could predict doom in the future. An owl perched on top of a house signals death in the building.
Pliny (a writer from ancient Rome) recorded how the whole city of Rome had to be cleaned with the ritual of lustratio after an owl flew into the Capitolium.
The Owl was also the sacred animal of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, law, justice, victory, and war. It represented the all-seeing nature of the goddess.
The ancient Romans believed that an Owl’s feather could be placed near a sleeping person and used to force them to reveal all their secrets. The ashes of an owl’s feet were also believed to cure snakebite.
Read Also: How Zeus Betrayed Metis, the Mother of Athena
Meaning of Owls in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, owls were used to represent sinners and vilified religious groups such as Jews and protestants. The nocturnal habits of Owls made them ideal metaphors to represent groups believed to live in the darkness, away from the light of Jesus Christ.
Owls were also believed to represent witchcraft, plagues, death, and misfortune. This is seen in various arts and literary works from the Middle Ages.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth hears an owl hooting during the murder of Duncan. Also, an Owlet’s wing is included in the broth prepared by the witches that predict Macbet’s fate.
Owls in Egyptian Mythology
In ancient Egypt, Owls were associated with morning and death and were often mummified and buried with corpses. Armlets featuring Owl images were also part of the ancient Egyptian burial rites. The belief was that the Owl provided guidance to the soul of the dead through the Daut (Underworld in Egyptian mythology).
Surprisingly, the Egyptians associated Owls with the Sun god Ra. They believed that owls could see perfectly in the dark because they had two little suns in their eyes.
There was even a special hieroglyphic for the Owl in ancient Egypt; this symbol was used to form the word ma, which means “to see”or “seeing one”.
Meaning of Owls in India and Hinduism
In India, the Owl is believed to be the favourite ride of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Unlike other mythologies around the world, Owls are not particularly associated with death and misfortune. Seeing an owl around your house could indicate a visit from the goddess of wealth herself.
The Owl’s nocturnal nature is also interpreted as a symbol of awareness in the darkness, seeing what others cannot, which aligns with wisdom and spiritual insight. In some interpretations, the Owl is a reminder not to get lost in illusions of wealth and to remain grounded.
Symbolism of Owls in China.
In some parts of China, owls are generally seen as ominous creatures that cause bad luck and misfortune; however, this has not always been the case. During the Shang and Zau dynasties, owls were believed to be the guides of the night and were treated with great respect.
Also, for those who practice the ancient Chinese system of Feng Shui, owls symbolize good luck, wisdom and good fortune. Placing statues of owls around your house is believed to attract wealth and repeal negative energy.
The symbolism of Owls in other cultures of the world
Owls in Native American Mythology
In Native American mythology, owls hold deep symbolic meanings that vary across tribes and cultures. For many, owls are seen as messengers from the spirit world that bring information to those who can understand.
Warriors would tie the feather of the Owl to their shields or tie them to their heads. They believed this would allow them to see at night and sneak silently on their enemies.
The Alabama, Caddo, Catawba, Choctaw, Lakota, and Cherokee tribes often view owls as omens of death or misfortune. The horned owl was particularly fared and believed to be the spirit of the dead, doomed to roam the earth forever.
Owls in Africa
All over Africa, Owls are associated with bad luck, death and spiritual messages. Witches were believed to transform into Owls at night to attend secret meetings. If you see an owl in a place during the day, it means something horrible is about to happen in that area.
In Japan
Owls enjoy a highly revered status in Japanese mythology. They are seen as symbols of fortune, good luck and prosperity. The Japanese name for owls, “Fukurou”, literarily translates to without hardship or no hardship.
Owls in Philippine Mythology
In the Philippines, owls were seen as a bad omen, and seeing one could mean that something evil was about to happen. In some Ancient Filipino stories, owls were seen as forest guardians. They slept during the day and watched the forest at night.