Because of its white coloring, the ermine is a symbol of moral purity and innocence. Its fur is attached to the robes and mozettas of various dignitaries, including those of the Roman Catholic Church, as a reminder of the purity and innocence their office requires in motive, discipline, behavior, and teaching. Like other white creatures, this carnivore is a symbol of Christ's innocence. Because its coat turns brown in the summer, the white ermine seems to die in the spring and be reborn in the winter. Therefore it is a symbol of Christ's Resurrection.
In the past, the ermine was believed to be an amphibious creature which preferred death to the soiling of its fur. According to Aelian, ermine, falling into a mud puddle, would immediately die of horror. Another myth was that hunters easily caught ermine by smearing mud on the entrances of the creatures' homes. Rather than sully their coats, by running through the dirty entranceway, the ermine, exhausted by the chase and unable to escape the hounds, would wait outside their homes for the hunters to kill them. Thus the ermine became associated with phrases such as "Death before Dishonor." This animal appears on coats of arms as the emblem of knights who would perform any unpleasant deed and suffer any hardship, including death, rather than stain their reputation or conscience.
All scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible unless otherwise indicated.
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Comments© 1998 by Suzetta Tucker
To cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Ermine Page." ChristStory
Christian Bestiary. 1998. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/ermine.htm
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