In memoria ad Antonio Gelsomino
Tuesday, December 03, 2024

The hedgehog - symbolism

hedgehog

The hedgehog is a clear symbol of self-defense, because in case of danger it rolls into a tight thorny ball.

In ancient civilizations, due to the rounded shape of the protective spines, the hedgehog was considered as a symbol of the great mother-goddess, the Babylonian Ishtar. In other traditions, the bearer of spines, the hedgehog is considered as a solar symbol. It is also an allegory of the Renaissance and is associated with the sense of touch. According to Christian belief it represents a greedy and short-tempered hedgehog-robber that identifies greed, gluttony, anger, and it was compared to Satan who steals the souls of men.

In the East, the hedgehog is a symbol of wealth.

On the other hand, the hedgehog was once considered to be an enemy of the chthonic forces of evil, because it eats rodents, grubs and earthworms. Like many other animals, hedgehogs are affected by weather changes and they are particularly sensitive to changes of wind direction. According to some superstitious notions of the peoples of the West, the witches have the ability to turn into hedgehogs and under this guise suck all milk of cows.

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The peacock - In Indian mythology, to draw its wings, reminiscent of many eyes, represents the image of a starry sky.

The spider - In ancient Indian tradition Brahma, the creator of all things, was allegorically called the spider that was spinning the web of the world.

The dove - In China, a dove is a symbol of longevity and filial piety. In the East, the dove is a symbol of love and marriage.

The tiger - The tiger is a symbol of power, strength and success, but at the same time it is a symbol of destruction, because the energy can be both creative and destructive.

The lion - In the symbolism of the elements associated with the fire, the lion represents courage, supreme power, nobility and pride.

The jaguar - Aztecs and Maya  believed that four jaguars represent the guardians of the road to peace.

The elephant - represents many qualities including: strength, royal power, dignity, patience, wisdom, longevity and happiness, as well as being a symbol of good luck.

The butterfly - is a symbol of a soul,  the fragility, the shortness of life, happiness and non-permanence.

The owl - It is a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, sensitivity, a prophetic gift, moderation, and melancholy.

The toad - In Vietnam, the toad is associated with rain, fertility, wealth, and sexuality. In Egypt, frogs were considered sacred animals.

The bear - The bear is a symbol of good will, heroic strength and clumsiness but also of malice, brutality and greed.

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