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Why Are Animals Important In Animal Mythology

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We all know that since ancient times animals were very important for various reasons. They were reared mainly for food, whilst others were kept as pets. Animals affected every area of everyday life, from the economy to religious beliefs and rituals.
Animals in mythology are usually tied in with fertility and vitality, because they are living, moving, and growing. They also provide vitality and continued life for the tribes through their meat, skins, and bones. In addition, they are a connection to the realm of spirits and the gods. This connection is seen through their use in the hunt, search for secrets and wisdom.
Belief in sacred animals is widespread. Common to all of these is the notion that the animal is a manifestation of the sacred and thus possesses the dual attributes of beneficence (in healing, hunting, or agricultural magic) or danger (as expressed in taboos against their destruction or consumption). More rarely, gods are believed to have animal (theriomorphic) forms. …show more content…

It is clear that the Celts were an agrarian society. Also some scholars such as Miranda Aldhouse–Green have speculated that they were animists (Green 1992: 196) (animism (from Latin anima, “breath, spirit, life”) is a worldview that non-human entities - such as animals, plants, and inanimate objects possess a spiritual essence (Hornborg 2006: 21)). That is why they had a great respect for their environment and the creatures who shared their sacred landscape.
In this essay I am going to try to explain the symbolism of animals and birds in one of the finest Irish sagas of the early period which is called The Destruction of Da Derga 's Hostel (Togail Bruidne Dá Derga).
In this epic tale we find many different animals but I have chosen to write about the most frequently used animal symbols of the boar, bird

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Deers are a symbol of sensitivity and can further be defined as a compassionate animal. To put it differently, a deer symbolizes me because I am a highly sensitive teenager that is emotionally reactive and easily affected by the energy and moods of others. As an example, when my parents get mad at me, I uncontrollably start to cry because I cannot bear the feeling of them being disappointed in me. I also sob in Nicholas Sparks movies because I feel sympathy for the characters and apply the plot to my own life. Moreover, kindness is an additional trait a deer represents and I graciously consider myself a kind person.

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In the play Agamemnon, there are many symbolism in it and a prominent one is symbolism of animals. There are not a lot of bird symbolism but they are still significant due to the reason that Aeschylus uses bird symbolism in Agamemnon to emphasize a certain characteristics of a character. This can be seen in Agamemnon and Menelaus portrayed as eagles, Cassandra symbolised as a nightingale, and Clytemnestra depicted as a crow. First, the earliest example of Aeschylus using bird symbolism in the play Agamemnon was with Agamemnon and Menelaus, as the two were portrayed as eagles.

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