hum2310 mythological meanings unmasked decoding the symbolism of myth part i
TRANSCRIPT
Mythological Meanings UnmaskedDecoding The Symbolism Of Myth
Mythology in Art & Literature Professor Will Adams
Valencia College
Symbolic Animals
Symbolic Animals
Symbolic Animals• The following animals
appear in a variety of cultures and represent a variety of things.
• In one case an animal might symbolize something good, while in another culture might consider it representative of evil.
Symbolic Animals: Crocodile/Alligator
Symbolic Animals: Crocodile/Alligator
Symbolic Animals: Crocodile/Alligator• Depending on the
culture one examines, alligators and crocodiles may represent:• Aggression• Survival• Adaptability• Cunning• Deception
Symbolic Animals: Apes & Monkeys
Symbolic Animals: Apes & Monkeys
Symbolic Animals: Apes & Monkeys• A common ancestor of
human beings, apes and chimps are often associated with human-like qualities such as:• Mischief• Mimicry• Cunning• Benevolence• Humanity• Nurturing
Symbolic Animals: Bats
Symbolic Animals: Bats
Symbolic Animals: Bats• As guardians of the night,
bats are often viewed as: • Cleaners• The unknown• Messengers • Duality • Bringers of happiness• Symbols of good luck,
longevity, & peace
• They may also represent hypocrisy, melancholy, revenge, or wisdom.
Symbolic Animals: Bees
Symbolic Animals: Bees
Symbolic Animals: Bees• Bees, who act as
pollinators, often symbolize:• Immortality• Rebirth• Industriousness• Order• Messengers between
worlds• Secret wisdom• Mothers & priestesses
Symbolic Animals: Birds
Symbolic Animals: Birds
Symbolic Animals: Birds• As inhabitants of the
sky, the realm only recently accessible to humans, birds often represent:
• The soul
Symbolic Animals: Birds• As inhabitants of the
sky, the realm only recently accessible to humans, birds often represent:
• The soul• Transcendence
Symbolic Animals: Birds• As inhabitants of the
sky, the realm only recently accessible to humans, birds often represent:
• The soul• Transcendence• The spirits of the air
Symbolic Animals: Birds• As inhabitants of the
sky, the realm only recently accessible to humans, birds often represent:
• The soul• Transcendence• The spirits of the air• Communication
Symbolic Animals: Birds• As inhabitants of the
sky, the realm only recently accessible to humans, birds often represent:
• The soul• Transcendence• The spirits of the air• Communication• Freedom
Symbolic Animals: Bears
Symbolic Animals: Bears
Symbolic Animals: Bears• As fearsome alpha
predators, bears have long been regarded as:• Primal power• Motherhood• Cunning• Gentle strength• Dreaming• Sovereignty• Intuition married with
instinct• Nurturing & protection
Symbolic Animals: Bulls
Symbolic Animals: Bulls
Symbolic Animals: Bulls• Although they were also hunted
as food sources by early humans, cattle – and especially bulls – wielded great physical strength.
• As a result, humans have historically associated them with:
Symbolic Animals: Bulls• Although they were also hunted
as food sources by early humans, cattle – and especially bulls – wielded great physical strength.
• As a result, humans have historically associated them with:• Wealth• Potency• Male procreative strength• Kingship• The taming of the
masculine and animal nature• Destructive force
Symbolic Animals: Butterflies
Symbolic Animals: Butterflies
Symbolic Animals: Butterflies• Butterflies must pass
through many physical transformations to reach their truest, mature forms; resultantly, they are associated with:• Metamorphosis• Transformation• Immortality• Rebirth• The soul
Symbolic Animals: Felines
Symbolic Animals: Felines
Symbolic Animals: Felines• Initially, cats were competing
predators, but eventually humans were able to domestic cats – at least partially.
• The cats’ grace, mystery, and independence have come to represent:
Symbolic Animals: Felines• Initially, cats were competing
predators, but eventually humans were able to domestic cats – at least partially.
• The cats’ grace, mystery, and independence have come to represent:• Guardianship• Detachment• Sensuality• Stealth• Liberty• Magic• Vanity
Symbolic Animals: Coyotes
Symbolic Animals: Coyotes
Symbolic Animals: Coyotes• As untamed predators
even today, coyotes have long been viewed as:• Pranksters • Playfulness • Duality and the ability to
present both sides of an issue
• Clowning and humor, perhaps sarcastic
Symbolic Animals: Canines
Symbolic Animals: Canines
Symbolic Animals: Canines• Domesticated dogs,
perhaps the first species of animal to undergo that process, are often seen as symbolizing:• Guidance• Protection• Loyalty• Fidelity• Watchfulness
Symbolic Animals: Dolphins
Symbolic Animals: Dolphins
Symbolic Animals: Dolphins• Extremely intelligent
and friendly when it comes to humans, dolphins and porpoises may represent:• Kindness• Saviorship• Intelligence• Communication
Symbolic Animals: Dragons
Symbolic Animals: Dragons
Symbolic Animals: Dragons• Mythical, fantastical
creatures like dragons are actually metaphors that represent forces early humans were able to quantify, such as:• The power of Earth• The breath of life• Supernatural power,
magic, & strength• Wisdom• Guardianship
Symbolic Animals: Eagles
Symbolic Animals: Eagles
Symbolic Animals: Eagles• As alpha predators of the
sky – again, a realm largely inaccessible to humans – eagles symbolize:• Divine spirits • The power of the air & the
sun• Power in battle• Clear vision• Success, prosperity, or
wealth• Intelligence & courage
Symbolic Animals: Elephants
Symbolic Animals: Elephants
Symbolic Animals: Elephants• Long-lived, physically
powerful, and majestic in their size, elephants are symbols of:• Strength• Fidelity• Memory• Patience• Wisdom & intelligence
Symbolic Animals: Goats
Symbolic Animals: Goats
Symbolic Animals: Goats• Hardy and formidable,
goats – as an early-domesticated species – have come to represent:• Vitality• Fertility• Abundance• Lust
Symbolic Animals: Horses
Symbolic Animals: Horses
Symbolic Animals: Horses• Another species domesticated
quickly by early humans, horses have played a vital role in the evolution of humankind; as a result, they are icons of:• Stamina• Mobility• Coping under difficult
circumstances• Love, devotion & loyalty• Nobility• Freedom & wildness
Symbolic Animals: Owls
Symbolic Animals: Owls
Symbolic Animals: Owls• Mysterious and
inquisitive guardians of the night, owls are symbols of:• Wisdom & truth• Darkness• Divination• Solitude & detachment• Clairvoyance & mysticism
Symbolic Animals: Serpents
Symbolic Animals: Serpents
Symbolic Animals: Serpents• Chthonic creatures like
snakes, that are bound to the earth and continually shed their forms, have earned reputations for: • Life• Rebirth & resurrection• Healing & harm• Preservation & destruction• Malice & fertility
Symbolic Animals: Spiders
Symbolic Animals: Spiders
Symbolic Animals: Spiders• As nature’s master
artisans – as well as skillful predators in their own right, spiders are symbols of:• Creativity• Patterns in life• Connecting the past with
the future• The creation of
possibilities
Symbolic Animals: Unicorns
Symbolic Animals: Unicorns
Symbolic Animals: Unicorns• Mythological creatures
who are thought to be both uncatchable and untameable, unicorns represent:• Chastity• Purity• Dreams• Strength• Magical healing
Symbolic Colors In Myth
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Red
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Red
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Red• Red has traditionally
symbolized excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence - all things intense and passionate.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Orange
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Orange
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Orange• The vibrant color
orange represents energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrancy, expansiveness, flamboyance
• It also visually demands attention.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Yellow
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Yellow
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Yellow• Yellow has many different
meanings, depending on the culture.
• It often represents joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Green
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Green
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Green• Another color associated
with a basic element of the earth – the land – green has come to represent nature, the environment, health, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Blue
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Blue
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Blue• Blue – a color associated
with the most basic elements of the earth, sea and sky – is symbolic of: peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Purple
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Purple
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Purple• Long a highly-prized color
because of the difficulty required to obtain its pigment, purple is representative of royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mystery, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, or mourning.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Brown & Tan
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Brown & Tan
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Brown & Tan
• The third elemental hue, brown symbolizes the Earth, stability, the hearth, home, the outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Black
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Black
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Black• Black represents the
absorption of all colors, and as such is associated with power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, and death in Western cultures.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: White
Symbolic Colors In Myth: White
Symbolic Colors In Myth: White• The reflection of all light’s
wavelength’s, white is a shade associated with reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage in Western cultures.
• It represents death in many Eastern cultures.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Pink
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Pink
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Pink• Pink symbolizes love
and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Beige & Ivory
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Beige & Ivory
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Beige & Ivory
• Beige and ivory symbolize unification.
• Ivory symbolizes quiet and pleasantness.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Beige & Ivory
• Beige and ivory symbolize unification.
• Ivory symbolizes quiet and pleasantness.
• Beige symbolizes calm and simplicity.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Turquoise
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Turquoise
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Turquoise• Turquoise symbolizes
calm.• Teal symbolizes
sophistication.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Turquoise• Turquoise symbolizes
calm.• Teal symbolizes
sophistication.• Aquamarine symbolizes
water.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Turquoise• Turquoise symbolizes
calm.• Teal symbolizes
sophistication.• Aquamarine symbolizes
water.• Lighter turquoise has a
feminine appeal.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Lavender
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Lavender
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Lavender• A more bluish-grey
shade of purple, lavender symbolizes femininity, grace and elegance.
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Grey
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Grey
Symbolic Colors In Myth: Grey• A neutral and enduring
color, grey represents security, reliability, intelligence, staidness, modesty, dignity, maturity, practicality, old age, or sadness.
• Silver symbolizes calm.
To Be Continued…