Is a dove a lunar symbol? This question may seem unusual, as the lunar symbol typically associated with the moon itself is the crescent or the full moon. Yet, in certain cultures and symbolism, doves too have been connected to the moon, often through their association with peace, fertility, and love. Let's delve deeper into this fascinating topic.
The connection between doves and the moon is not immediately apparent in Western cultures, where we often think of owls as birds of the night or moon. However, in various other cultures and mythologies, doves hold prominent lunar significances.
The Moon as a Feminine Symbol
The moon is widely recognized as a feminine symbol across different cultures. It's associated with gestation, birth, and renewal due to its phases, echoing the transitions in the female reproductive cycle. Thus, creatures often linked to fertility and birth, like doves, can also be connected to the moon.
In ancient Egyptian culture, the moon was personified as the goddess Thoth, who was often depicted as a dove or ibis. This bond between the moon and doves suggests that, in ancient Egyptian symbolism, doves could indeed be considered lunar symbols.
Doves in Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, doves are strongly connected to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and fertility. Aphrodite is also associated with the moon, given the now-extinct moon phase called "aphrodision", which illustrated the projectile that caused the wound of the god Eros. Therefore, by extension, doves in Greek mythology can symbolize the moon.
Moreover, some interpretations suggest that the owl is not the only nocturnal bird associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Doves, too, were sacred to Athena, and their association with wisdom provides another link between these birds and lunar symbolism, since the moon was seen as a symbol of wisdom in ancient cultures.
The Dachname of the Moon
A less well-known connection exists in folklore and naming traditions. The DACHRAMEN (Dachnamen or Moon Names) are ancient German lunar month names that gave rise to later Germanic naming traditions. The second month, February, was often termed "Dovedbird month" (Dovedbird = Dove), reflecting the increase of this species' activity during this time. Thus, in German lunar symbolism, doves can be associated with the moon.
This connection is further strengthened by the Germanvariant of the Celtic stone circle, the Pillewinkler. This flat-stone circle, found in Lower Saxony, was named after the Pilewinkler, a local name for the dove. The moon's influence over tides and farming, and thus human life, deemed these circles sacred to the moon, thereby boosting the lunar significance of the dove.
Doves and the Moon in Art and Literature
Throughout history, doves have been symbolically paired with the moon in art and literature. A famous example is the "Dove of Peace" sculpted by Carl pa, created for the International Women's Year in 1975. The dove is depicted with olive branches, under a crescent moon, symbolizing peace and fertility.
The late Renaissance Italian painter Giorgio Vasari depicted "The Boar, the Wolf, the Fox, and the Dove," where a dove is depicted being swallowed by a serpent under the moon. This work illustrates the eternal struggle between evil and good, with the dove representing hope and renewal.
Thus, while doves are not typically the first symbol that comes to mind when thinking of lunar symbols, their connections to fertility, fertility goddesses, and moonlight in various cultures and artforms solidify them as part of the lunar symbolism tapestry. This topic, though often overlooked, offers a rich field for further symbolic exploration.
