THE PELICAN
Class VI Harbinger Phenomena
The pelican (family Pelecanidae) consists of eight separate
species of waterfowl, distinguished by their large beaks and throat pouches.
With a largely global distribution, the pelican has been a staple in legend and
folklore, and is considered by many (especially sailors) to have powers in
relation to the winds and act as a token of good luck. Cultures around the
world all have legends concerning the animal, and its relations to humans.
Ancient Egypt:
The henet was
known as a goddess associated with life and death. In addition, it was said
that the pelican had the powers of prophesy in its ability to foretell safe
passage through the underworld for the souls of the dead. The pelican was also
often invoked for protection from snakes.
Aboriginal Populations:
The Murri of
Australia and the Moche peoples of
Peru both mentioned the Pelican in their origin stories.
Medieval Europe:
In the medieval period, it was believed that the Pelican
would be self-sacrificing, and would nourish its brood with its own blood if
necessary. This was repeated in several medieval bestiaries, and as a result of
this, the Pelican was associated with both the Crucifixion and the qualities of
self sacrifice in the defense of others. Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225- 7 March
1274) noted these qualities in his Adoro
te devote, and in particular Elizabeth I of England (7 September 1533-24
March 1603) took the Pelican as a symbol for herself and the defense of
England. It is also notable that at this time in England, parallel
stories were being told of the Pelican on the Indian subcontinent.
The Age of Sail:
The stories of the Pelican’s luck and powers of control in
the ocean come in to play particularly during the Age of Sail (c1600-1850)
One of the earliest legends tells of a group of mariners who
were drowned during a shipwreck, and were unable to rest because they had not
been properly buried. Their souls petitioned Neptune, lord of the Seas, and he
struck a bargain with them. The sailors would be transformed into the Pelicans,
and when they had caught enough fish to fill the holds of their sunken ships,
their souls would be released. In return, Neptune offered the sailors
protection, proclaiming that any who harmed the birds would be punished with
misfortune, and those who assisted the Pelican would receive favor. There are
several notable accounts of this coming to pass, one particularly famous
mention being in The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner (Coleridge, 1798), where he discusses at length what befell the
mariner when the albatross was killed.
It should also be noted that there is a
certain reticence even to this day for a sailor, fisherman, or even a dock
worker to scare away or chase off a Pelican from the daily catch for fear of
catching some nautically based misfortune. The wiser course of action may be to
follow in their footsteps, and allow the birds to pass unmolested, if only to
avoid any possible injuries that may occur from the strong beak of the bird
should it decide to defend itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment