Death has been symbolically represented by various animals across different cultures and time periods because of mythological associations or behavioral characteristics. These meanings come from the animal’s scavenging behavior, nighttime activity, or mythical representations. This article looks at 11 animals traditionally connected with death and the myths that tell their story.
1. Crows: Death is Their Business
Crows stand out as one of the most identifiable birds connected with death. This occurrence stems partly from the fact that crows are called a murder’ when assembled in large numbers — a name that corresponds to their vulturous disposition. Crows are often associated with death as signs or companions of the dead in Celtic and Central Asian mythologies.
2. Wolves: Myths of Destruction
Wolves have been depicted in various myths across different cultures. Fenrir in Norse mythology plays a significant role in the emergence of Ragnarök, which means the destruction of the world. Wolves have also become prominent in European folklore, such as Little Red Riding Hood, which has cemented their image as danger and death.
3. Dogs: Guardians of the Underworld
Dogs have been linked to death for centuries in different mythological positions. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, is responsible for guarding the entrance to the underworld. Anubis, the Egyptian god of mummification, is shown with the head of a jackal because these animals were found frequently at ancient burial sites.
4. Rats: Carriers of Disease
During the medieval period in Europe, people blamed rats for spreading diseases such as the Black Death. However, research shows fleas and lice that lived on human skin and hair caused the outbreak of the Black Death, not rats; nevertheless, rats still carry a stigma of disease and decomposition.
5. Owls: Bringing Tidings of Death
In various cultures, people consider owls as the spirits or signs of death due to their active life at night. For example, in Sri Lankan folklore, there is a belief in an owl-like creature called the Devil Bird, which is said to cry in the night before someone’s death.
6. Cats: More Than Just Friends Beyond the Grave
Black cats are considered to bring bad luck in Western culture, but they also function as guardians of the dead, like Anubis with his jackal iconography protecting corpses. Legend has it that the Demon Cat legend is said to appear at the White House and the Capitol before a tragedy occurs.
7. Bats: Creatures of the Night
Bats are related to witchcraft and vampires because bats are blood-sucking animals during the night. This negative impression was boosted by literature, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where the titular character would turn into a vampire bat, stalking Transylvania at night, feeding on unsuspecting humans’ blood.
8. Eagles (Haast’s Eagle): Prehistoric Omens
The lost species of Haast’s eagle is important to Māori legend as Te Hokioi (or Pouākai), possibly a real bird that inspired this legend, which is said to bring omens of death.
9. Butterflies: Metaphor for Rebirth and Soul Recovery
Butterflies are typically associated with the concept of transformation yet they also hold other meanings based on their life stages; white butterflies are said to carry the souls of fallen loved ones to reassure their families according to Irish folklore.
10. Snakes: The Life and Death Cycles
Worldwide, snakes represent both the life cycle of shedding skin and danger through venomous bites within various mythologies, including Medusa from Greek Mythology, who had snakes for hair and could turn people to stone with one gaze.
11. Fish (Oarfish): Signs from the Depths
The oarfish in Japanese culture is said to act as a warning sign for earthquakes. Although there is no scientific proof for these claims, they are said to have made frequent appearances before disasters like the tsunami-related incidents on the Japanese coast before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011.
Myths and Legends
These 11 animals are an integral part of cultural stories that explain death and reflect our anxieties and grasp of natural occurrences around us. Whatever the connotation, each one plays a crucial part in shaping the perceptions of the transition from one world to the next or the real world.
