In ancient times, the world was full of unexplored mysteries. There were many divine beings who were worshiped and admired. The worship of such beings made the people feel less alone in this unknown world.
One such way of showing reverence to these strange and unpredictable gods was to perform animal sacrifices.
Some cultures correlate animals with fertility and vitality since they’re constantly living, moving, and growing. Their existence provides continued life for humanity through their meat, skins, and bones. Additionally, they are the missing connection to the spirit realm and afterlife.
Animals symbolized certain aspects of human personality and lifestyle, which was quite helpful for the healers or shamans who used them as a tool for assessing health or predicting future events in the lives of their patients.
In fact, animal symbolism is still used today by many cultures as a means of divination and fortune-telling.
All animal symbolism is the use of animal imagery, especially within a literary context, to symbolize non-literal meanings.
1. Animals and humans are often seen as reflections of each other. In this way, animals can be used as a figure of speech to represent different human characteristics or behaviors through their actions or mannerisms. Examples: “A dog’s life”; “She has a catty personality”; “My boss is a monkey on my back”
2. Animals can be used to represent human qualities that lack an appropriate word in the speaker’s language: for example, in the case of animals which do not exist in their language
3. Animals can be used to represent abstract ideas such as death or nature
Animal Symbolism
- Why Do Owl’s Hoot? Different Types of Hoots
- White Owl Meaning: Significance & Symbolism
- What Does it Mean When You See an Owl?
- What Does it Mean When you Hear an Owl?
- What does a Fox Symbolize? Positive Traits of the Fox
- What does it Mean When a Deer Stares at You?
- How to Get Rid of Skunks in the Garden? Tips
- What Does it Mean When God Sends Cardinals?
- What does it Mean When You See a Cardinal?
- Crow Symbolism: Meaning In Different Culture
- What Does it Mean When You See a Coyote?
- Rabbit Symbolism: Meaning & Dreams
- What does it Mean When You See a Blue Jay?
- What does it Mean When a Moth Lands on You?
- What Does it Mean When You See a Hummingbird?
- What Does it Mean When You See a Hummingbird?
- Orange Butterfly Meaning: Symbolism & Significance
- What does a Yellow Butterfly Mean? Appearance & Symbolism
- Butterfly Symbolism and Meaning: Spirit Animal & Totem
- What does it Mean When You See a White Butterfly?
- What Does It Mean When You See a Butterfly?
- What does it Mean When You See a Dragonfly?
- What does it Mean When a Bird Hits Your Window?
- What does it Mean When a Moth Lands on You?
- What Does It Mean When You See a Praying Mantis?
- What Does it Mean When You See an Eagle?
- What Does it Mean When a Ladybug Lands on You?
- Why are You Dreaming of Lion/Lioness?
- Red Cardinals Bird And Death: Superstition & Biblical Meaning
- What Does it Mean When You See a Red Bird?
- Parakeet Care: A Complete Guide to Keep Parakeet
- How to Get Rid of a Raccoons?
- Parakeets: How to Care For a Parakeets Briefly
- Window Bird Feeder: Types Of Window Bird Feeders
- 5 Best Squirrel Feeders in 2022