ChristStory Bestiary

SWAN

Jesus and Mary

During the early years of Christianity, the swan was a popular image used for Christian lamps and ornamentation. Its extreme whiteness and its life upon pure waters implied purity and chastity; virtues which early Christians found exemplified in Jesus and Mary. It was the emblem of perfect love, courage, clean conscience and of light; traits also exemplified in Christ who called Himself the "light of the world" (John 8:12) and laid down His life for His friends (John 10:11-15; 15:13). Its white coloring reminded Christians of Christ's transfiguration during which "His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them" (Mk 9:3). Like Christ, the swan was an enemy of the serpent because it ate small snakes and eels as it swam in the marshes.

A pair of swans drinking from a cup symbolizes the Eucharistic chalice and the innocence of those deemed worthy to drink from it. Two swans with their necks lovingly entwined stand for two lovers or friends united in a companionship which is tender and true. However, Vincent de Beauvais considers this picture an image of lasciviousness and forbidden caresses.

There is a constellation in the Milky Way called the Swan whose stars form a cross. This celestial swan is sometimes associated with Christ's carrying of His own cross. "The Swan of the Cross" was a popular name for hotels in France. Its logo pictured a swan with its neck wrapped around a cross.

Camomile (a daisylike flower) was once called "swan weed". In Susa and Babylon, its yellow center was considered an emblem of their own divine or creating word and its white petals represented its spread throughout the world during the act of creation.

A swan harnessed to a boat or chariot signifies various sun-gods, including Apollo. It has become a symbol of Christ drawing His church through the waters of this life and onward through the heavens. In this emblem, the swan acts similarly to the dolphin symbol.

Even before Christianity, the swan was widely associated with divine virgins. Myths and legends around the world told of the beautiful swan maiden whose clothes or feathers were stolen by the hunter of the lake. The hunter refused to return her feathers, and the swan was left with no other choice but to marry him and give birth to the human race.

Depictions of the myth of Leda who was seduced by Jupiter in the shape of a swan were used by the early Egyptian Church and in Rome to represent the Annunciation (Lk 1:35). According to this myth, Jupiter awoke Leda and told her, "Fear not. The king of heaven wishes you to become the mother of my twin sons. They will become the gods Castor and Pollux." Eventually, Castor was slain and the inconsolable Pollux was permitted to share his immortality with his mortal brother. Thereafter, the boys were allowed to spend alternate days in Hades.

The Celts believed that various deities enjoyed traveling through this world in the shape of swans which usually traveled in pairs linked together with gold or silver chains. There are at least three myths involving men named Cycnus where a man was changed into a swan to ease the grief of a tragic death. Native American legend endows the swan with the ability to call up the four winds in order to carry out the plans of the Great spirit. Other people believed that the swan, rather than the stork, delivered babies.

In Sweden, St. Brigitte's virtue was believed to be so aromatic that it attracted wild swans who longed to be petted by her holy hands.

Probably, the most famous belief about the swan is that it only sings when it is about to die. This song easily became an omen of death. It is believed to be extraordinarily passionate and beautiful, filled with the joy of a being which sees the glory of another life before it. This song has been compared to the joyous deaths of saints and martyrs and is exemplified in the Bible's description of the death of Stephen the Martyr: "He, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God..." (Acts 9:55-60). The last works of poets and other artists are referred to as their "swan songs." The swan song of Christ is contained in John chapters 14-17.

The legendary swan's song has caused this bird to represent music and poetry, especially that which is divinely inspired, passionate or tragic. The swan is sometimes pictured with a harp and thus represents fervent prayer. Legends of wild swans allowing themselves to be captured by skilled harpists place one in mind of Christ coming to the aid of the one who persists in prayer.

The beauty and roundness of the swan's body caused Nordic people to allude to it as the height of female grace and beauty. However, the swan's long neck represented masculinity. Together, the parts of the swan's body suggest the union of masculinity and femininity, even hermaphroditism.

In some countries, the swan is the image of deceit and hypocrisy because under its white feathers hides black flesh. Early Roman Christians noticed that the wealthy used swan's grease to hide wrinkles and associated the swan with those vain hypocrites who are like "whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead man's bones and all uncleanness" (Mt 23:27).

Some people saw in the swan an emblem of lust. A swan with a fish in its mouth represents the Devil snatching up and consuming the unwary Christian.

The swan is also an image of solitude, nobility, song, and grace. The red swan is a symbol of the sun and the black swan represents traitors, the occult, and the Devil.

Unless otherwise noted all scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible.