Owl Symbolism Across Cultures

symbols of wisdom in art and culture

Owls are truly fascinating creatures! With their keen senses, silent flight, and mysterious nocturnal habits, they capture the imagination of people all over the world. One of the most remarkable features of owls is their ability to hunt in the dark using their exceptional hearing and night vision. Their large eyes are adapted to gather as much light as possible, allowing them to see in low-light conditions with incredible clarity.

In this article, we will explore in-depth the owl symbolism as well as its meanings in culture and arts around the world.

1. Death

owl symbolism for death

Owls have always carried a mysterious vibe, often linked to death, misfortune, and the spirit world in many cultures. Their eerie calls and intense stares make them feel like messengers from another realm.

In Native American traditions, owls are seen as symbols of death or warnings from the spirit world. Their calls can signal bad news, and some tribes even believe the circles around their eyes are made from ghostly fingernails.

In Vietnam, owl calls are loaded with superstition. Seven hoots mean bad news for men, and nine hoots? Not great for women. If an owl lands near your house or stares right at it, it’s seen as a bad omen, especially for anyone sick.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Owls also help farmers by hunting rodents, so they’re not all bad! Still, their sharp gaze and haunting presence keep their reputation as symbols of mystery and misfortune alive.

Read More: Top Symbols of Death Around The World

2. Wisdom

owl symbolism for wisdom and knowledge

Owls are known for their ability to turn their heads almost completely around, letting them watch for danger from all directions. Their big, round eyes make them look careful and wise. In Japan, owls symbolize intelligence, wisdom, and patience, showing that true wisdom comes from staying calm and observant.

In Greek culture, owls are linked to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. The Little Owl, her sacred bird, was believed to have a magical inner light that helped it see in the dark, making it a symbol of insight and knowledge.

Owls are often seen as solitary and thoughtful creatures. In Western culture, they’re portrayed as wise, often wearing glasses or graduation caps, like a professor. Their round eyes remind people of spectacles, adding to their image as symbols of wisdom and learning.

3. Wizardry

Owls have a long history of being associated with death and witchcraft in folklore, adding to their mysterious reputation.

In Greek and Roman tales, witches were believed to transform into owls to drink the blood of babies. Owls were also seen as messengers of witches or as warnings of their presence, leading to widespread fear and the killing of owls during the Middle Ages.

In many African cultures, owls are linked to sorcery and magic. Seeing a large owl near a home is thought to signal the presence of a powerful shaman, with owls often seen as messengers between the shaman and the spirit world.

In ancient Rome, owls were believed to predict the deaths of emperors, leading to practices like nailing an owl to a door to ward off evil. This cruel tradition continued in parts of Europe, where people believed it could protect barns and livestock from fire or lightning.

Owl Symbolism in Japanese Cultures

Owls in Japanese culture are regarded as symbols of luck and protection from adversity.

This perception is rooted in the Japanese name for owl, Fukuro (梟), which can be written using different characters. One combination suggests luck (福 fuku, meaning luck; 来ku, to come; 郎 ro, a suffix commonly found in boys’ names), while another implies protection from hardship (不 fu, meaning no; 苦労 kurou, suffering/hardship). Essentially, the term conveys the idea of being “without hardship.”

This linguistic play has led to owls being embraced as icons of good fortune and gaining popularity as engimono (縁起物), or lucky charms. It’s customary to present owl-themed gifts to graduating students as a gesture of well-wishes. Some individuals believe that owls of varying colors and shapes may influence the type of luck they bring; for example, pink owls are associated with love, while gold owls are believed to symbolize wealth.

In Japanese mythology there is a God of Owls called Cikap-Kamuy. In Japanese myth, he is a deity of abundance, ensuring the proper enactment of rituals. The tale unfolds during a time of famine, with humanity facing starvation. Seeking answers, Cikap-Kamuy sends Crow as his messenger to inquire about the cause of the famine. However, Crow falls asleep during the lengthy message recitation on the third day, prompting Cikap-Kamuy’s wrath, resulting in Crow’s demise.

Owl in Chinese Culture

In Chinese culture, owls are considered soul catchers, and people use various methods to drive them out of their homes such as turning brooms upside down or burning them to create uncomfortable smoke.

The Chinese characters describing owls – “猫头鹰” (Māotóuyīng) – literally translate to “cat-headed eagle owl,” a fitting description both in appearance and demeanor. Despite the fear of owls and their close association with death, they are still respected in China and sometimes considered protectors.

Owls have been present in Chinese culture since at least the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). Many artifacts depicting owls have been discovered from this period in provinces like Shanxi, Hubei, and Hubei, as well as in Anyang, the ruins of the Shang capital.

Owl Symbolism in Ancient Greece


In ancient Greek mythology, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, admired the Owl for its large eyes and solemn appearance. Impressed by its qualities, Athena chose the Owl as her favorite bird, replacing the mischievous crow. The Little Owl (Athene noctua) became closely associated with Athena, and it was believed that the Owl possessed a magical “inner light” that granted it night vision.

Owls were also revered as protectors, residing in great numbers on the Acropolis. They accompanied Greek armies to war and served as symbols of wisdom in daily life. The sight of an Owl flying over Greek soldiers before battle was interpreted as a sign of impending victory. Additionally, the Little Owl featured prominently on Athenian coins, symbolizing watchfulness over trade and commerce.

Roman superstitions also associated Owls with witches, believing that they could transform into Owls and prey on babies. In Roman mythology, Ascalpus was transformed into an Owl for revealing Proserpine’s consumption of a pomegranate in the underworld, a act that prevented her return to her mother Ceres.

Owl Symbolism in Native American Culture

Dreaming of an owl is considered a sign of impending death among the Apache, while the Cree view the whistle-sounds of the Boreal Owl as a call to the spirit world. Cherokee shamans, on the other hand, seek guidance from Eastern Screech Owls on matters of punishment and illness. Even today, in Native American spiritual traditions, the owl symbolizes vision and insight.

To the Pawnee tribe, the owl represents protection, whereas the Ojibwa associate it with evil and death, as well as high status for their spiritual leaders. The Pueblo people link the owl to Skeleton Man, the deity of death and fertility.

In various Native American cultures, owls are connected to magic, clairvoyance, and astral travel, owing to their ability to see in the dark and move silently at night.

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