As far back as the Iron Age, the domesticated falcon has been a favorite companion of the hunter. Like the lion, it was believed never to close its eyes in sleep. Therefore, in some areas, the falcon took on the responsibilities of a watchdog.
Like many domesticated animals, the wild and the tamed falcon each have different symbolic meanings analogous to unconverted and converted man. Wild falcons represent the unconverted Gentile and sinful thoughts or deeds. But, the tamed bird symbolizes the Christian convert with his lofty thoughts, hopes, and aspirations. During the Middle Ages, paintings of falcons attacking hares depicted the victory of the Christian over lusty temptations. Roofers, noticing that falcons sometimes took on the shape of roofing hammers, used this bird as a symbol of their trade.
Egyptians associated the falcon with the Eye of Horus. Horus himself was believed to appear in the form of Pharaoh's falcon or as a falcon-headed god. He could see everything at once because one of his eyes was the sun and the other was the moon. Falcons were allowed to ride on Pharaoh's nape as his protector and divine animator. As the embodiment of Horus, the falcon wears a double crown. When he represents the Egyptian deity, Ra, he wears a disk on his head. A human-headed falcon is a symbol of the human soul.
As Christianity spread, pagan symbols were given meanings which harmonized with the new religion. Since the falcon already symbolized the nobility and superiority associated with the eagle in many lands, it was endowed with many of the eagle's other mystical attributes. The Egyptian use of the falcon to symbolize human souls was continued, but the bird now also stood for the Holy Spirit which animated the religious in their duties. This representative of Pharaoh's victories now symbolized the victories of Christ; chief among them, the Resurrection. In Asia, this creature of the heights hunted and killed demons.
When falcons are pictured wearing a hood, they symbolize prisoners; that treasure which is hidden in jars of clay (2 Cor 4:6-7) or stifled by ignorance and sin (Is 58:9-11; John 1:4-5); or communion with and hope in the light which is Christ in spite of the surrounding night (2 Sam 22:29; Psa 112:4; Is 42:16; John 8:12). The attitude conveyed is similar to that of Micah as he wrote, contemplating the destruction of Israel, "when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in the darkness, the LORD will be a light to me" (Micah 7:8). Renaissance printers used the logo of a hooded falcon along with the words "Post tenebras spero lucem" (After darkness I hope for light).
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible.
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Comments© 1997 by Suzetta Tucker
To cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Falcon Page." ChristStory
Christian Bestiary. 1997. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/falcon.htm
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