47 r © The British LibraryĪ more disturbing element of owl’s negative symbolism is their association with anti-Semitism. Anthropomorphic owl meant to resemble a Jew bestiary, 2nd quarter of the 13th century, England British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. In the same vein, in the often-repeated story of the owlet in the hawk’s nest, the owl’s true identity is discovered when it fouls the nest-and then it is thrown out of the nest and dismembered by magpies and crows (Mann 178). Nabor’s fable “The Peacock and the Owl,” a white peacock, symbolizing light and goodness, is violently murdered by an “envious owl” (Ziolkowski 245), and then a violent curse is wished upon the owl to avenge the death of the beautiful peacock. Building on these negative associations, medieval beast poems include violence towards owls. In Leviticus, owls are mentioned as unclean birds.

For example, Job in his sorrow is referred to as the companion of owls, linking owls with mourning.

Medieval poets took biblical references to owls as inspiration. Owls have a strong presence in medieval fables and poems, many of them associating owls with the darkness and uncleanliness. However, owl symbolism has not continuously had such positive connotations in fact, in Medieval England, they were drastically different. The convention of associating these nocturnal birds with wisdom goes all the way back to ancient Greeks and Romans depicting owls with the goddess of wisdom, Athena/Minerva. Their depictions in modern iconography range from majestic hunters to cute messengers à la Harry Potter.

Today, owls are usually associated with wisdom.

Medieval illuminations birds