medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear George,
You have hit upon the subject that fascinates me most, so beware...!
(C-L's book is right next to me so no running anywhere was necessary.)
C-L's chapter on the lion is followed by that on the eagle.
The chapter begins with Christ as bird, specifically eagle, and continues
with a discussion of positive eagle symbolism across cultures,
chronologies and continents. One of the more interesting aspects of eagle
lore is that it can allegedly look straight into the sun; any eaglet
unable to do this was shoved out of the nest. But - there's always a "but"
- "The eagle also, image of Christ in many ways, was taken to represent
Satan, b/c it is not only the noble and magnificent bird but also the
rapacious destroyer; under this aspect Deuteronomy had already categorized
it among the impure beasts, whose flesh the Israelites were not to
eat....[Discussion of Christ as fish] the eagle was shown trampling with
its talons [translation is not mine and I don't like "trampling" used to
describe talon activity] a fish which it often struck with its beak....So
the devil does with the soul.
Elsewhere in the Christian works of art, the eagle captures a hare, or
catches in its claws a young lamb.
A few of the Church fathers [have given the eagle] a kindly interpretation
[but] the devouring eagle has remained the image of our relentless enemy."
Fascinating in that "On eagle's wings" is a most popular post-Vatican II
hymn in which the eagle functions as psychopomp, "bearing blessed souls to
their celestial source" just as it did for the ancient Syrians, who
believed that the sun (the sun again!) was the source of souls.
Voilą!
MG
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