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What does an eagle mean in Africa. Encyclopedia of symbols

What does an eagle mean in Africa. Encyclopedia of symbols

Eagle: mediator between the worlds

The meter-high bird sculpture was found along with other similar statues during excavations carried out at the sites of ancient settlements in greater Zimbabwe. Similar statues were erected next to the houses in which the king's pregnant wives were located. The eagle, in the minds of Africans, was a messenger capable of bringing news to the living from their deceased ancestors. Thanks to the well-established connection with his departed ancestors, the king could guarantee his entire people well-being and protection from all kinds of troubles. Communication with the ancestors in the kingdom of the dead was the most important spiritual task of the African ruler. People believed that their departed ancestors could communicate with God, and therefore the flight of an eagle in the sky has always made a strong impression on Africans.

Stone statues played the role of intermediaries that helped to establish communication between people, their departed ancestors and gods. These statues traditionally contain the characteristics of both a man and an eagle. The bird, represented by the statue shown in the figure, has lips instead of a beak, and along with wings it has five-fingered Hands. The sitting posture of the statue symbolizes an influential status, it may be the ritual sister of the king, the so-called "great-aunt."

 

The other seven statues found represent a standing eagle: human features, they symbolize the spirits of male ancestors.

Source: "Symbols of Africa" ​​Heike Ovuzu