Its Polarizing Views Around the World

Pellets.com is your source for owl pellets and owl pellet kits and have been helping children’s education in science for over 25 years. Along with food web posters, you can order owl pellet dissection kits online here. Myths and legends of the owl have been around for well over 25 years as well. We humans have been enthralled by owls since ancient times and have attributed them to supernatural and life aspects. Owls have been interpreted differently around the world. So what do owls symbolize? What does it mean when you see an owl? What did people think about when they saw an owl flying in the moon-lit night?

In ancient Greece, owls were associated with wisdom. The symbol of the owl was associated with the Greek goddess Athena, who was the goddess of wisdom as well as the patron goddess of Athens, the epicenter of art and scholarship in Greece. The likely reason why the owl is the symbol for Athena was because of the inspiration for the Greek goddess. Lilith was the goddess of death who had talons for feet and was flanked by owls. Unsurprisingly, the Roman appropriated version of Athena named Minerva also featured the owl has her symbol and was also the goddess of wisdom.

Owl symbolism is linked to death, ruin and destruction and is a popular concept in the Middle East. They are seen as the representation of souls of those who died un-avenged. Such casualties were foretold before a battle if an owl was seen. Hearing the hoot of an owl signified that a bad day was imminent. Seeing an owl on someone’s house meant that someone living there is about to die.

In other countries in the eastern hemisphere, many people believe in the link between owl symbolism and death. Some Asian groups believed that the owl was akin to a death god who would come to carry one’s soul away upon death. The Chinese would see owls as an order to dig a grave. Christian churches saw owls as a symbol of evil, linking them to Satan.

The connection between owl symbolism, death and wisdom persists in some countries, but today, owls are more commonly associated with their air of mystery and beauty in the night. Perhaps they can be seen for educational value as well. Order owl pellets along with lab dissection kits at Pellets.com so that your students can learn more about the bird of prey.