ANIMALS, BIRDS and SYMBOLS

Both domestic animals and wild animals play a great role in our life. Thats why people try to take care of them from ancient times.

People considered that wild animals were strong, brave and dangerous. They wanted to have such characters as animals. People respected them. They thought that they had been animals. Thats why animals appeared in various religious.

In many countries animals became symbols of Gods. In the ancient Greek mythology goddess Afina was represented together with an owl. Owl was a symbol of wisdom. Her father Zevs, king of Gods and all people, was represented with an eagle. Thats why we say that eagle is a king of birds.

There were symbols at Christianity also. The symbol of Mark was a lion with wings. The symbol of Luka was a bull.

The symbol of medicine is a bowl with a snake. The snake symbolizes wisdom. According to legend the ancient Greek God of doctoring Asklepiy killed a snake. Another snake appeared with a grass in a mouth and recovered the killed snake. Asklepiy began to use this grass to recover people.

Many different animals appeared in the sky with the help of ancient astronomers. Many stars are called in honor of animals: Big and Small she-bears, the Lion, The Whale.

Different animals symbolizes different features of characters: Camel - coolness, Raven - cruelty, Pigeon - innocence, Hedgehog - wit, Goat - slyness, Swan - beauty, Lion - power, Fox - cunning, Deer - speed, Eagle - genius, Elephant - good nature.

In many countries favourite animals, birds became the symbols of the nation, the state. Such animals and birds we can see on flags and arms. On the arm of Russia there is a two-headed eagle. On the arm of the USA there is a bald eagle. On the flag of Iran there is a lion under the sun.

Animals and birds are represented on the arms of many Russian cities. On the arm of Yaroslavl we can see a bear, on the arm of Vladimir – a lion. The symbol of Nizhney Novgorod is an elk. The symbol of Kazan is a winged snake. A silver elk was represented on the arm of Yoshkar-Ola. This elk is a master of our forests. This elk is also a symbol of power and generosity. Now it is a bear.

Many countries are associated with animals. The national symbol of Australia is a kangaroo and an emu. The national symbol of New Zealand is a kiwi. The national symbol of Russia is a bear.

Animals and birds are closely connected with Olympic games. The Symbol of Olympic Games in Mexico was a pigeon Paloma. In 1972 in Munich participants of Olympic Games were met by a dog Valdy. In 1980 in Moscow the symbol was a smiling bear Misha. In 1984 in Los Angeles the most popular bird was an eagle Sam.

Animals are also the symbols of parties in different countries. In Russia the symbol of the most popular party is a bear. The symbol of democratic party in the USA is a donkey. The symbol of republic party is an elephant.

A lot of animals, birds, fishes, insects are written in different fairy tales, legends and stories, such as wolves, foxes, hares, swans and so on.