ChristStory Bestiary

BAT

DUALITY, RESTLESS SOULS, HAPPINESS & DEMONS

The ancients saw in the bat an ambiguous rodent-like creature which was not quite bird and not quite mammal. Its dual nature likened the bat to the winged dragon and the hermaphrodite. Its mouse-like appearance gave it nicknames such as flittermouse, leather wing, night puck, and bald mouse. In addition to that, it had the suspicious habit of roosting upside down and one of its relatives, the vampire bat, enjoyed sucking the blood of its victims.

In Christian symbolism, naked or unfeathered wings such as those of the bat are the mark of accursed creatures such as vampires, dragons, incubi, demons, Satan, basilisks, and Death. Because of this, the bat has been associated with black magic, witchcraft, idolatry, chaos, and fear. Wings of skin are representations of the perversion of the intellectual faculties. Those who lift their minds in the pursuit of godly knowledge fly on the wings of feathered birds; but those who study the black arts do not seek the heights, but rather hover about the earth upon the webbed wings of the bat.

The hybrid nature of the bat also makes it a symbol of those who become stuck on their spiritual journey. These unfortunates are unable to soar with the wings of an eagle and yet they no longer belong to the sinful world represented by their mammalian nature. They are like children who have "come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth" (2 Ki 19:3).

On the other hand, the bat's dual nature makes it a symbol of interbreeding and unity amongst creatures. The differences of the species are harmonized into a new being which is both bird and beast. The bat's tendency to roost in clusters with its fellows adds to the image of a closely knit and sharing community.

Its nocturnal habits make the bat an incarnation of the powers of darkness and of the Prince of Darkness, who is believed to flee from the powers of light. Demons, in the form of bats, are sometimes pictured exiting through the mouths of the possessed. Its hybrid form and its tendency to hide in dark and lonely places cause the bat to be associated with envy, atheism, hypocrisy, impurity, confusion, sexuality, and duplicity. Invidia, envy personified, is portrayed with bat's wings since she could not bear it if her true feelings and the malicious deeds they inspire her to commit were brought to light. The bat is an abomination to the Israelites and a terror to many (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18). Yet, in several countries, superstitious people nail bats to their doors in order to ward off locusts, demons, witchcraft, and black magic.

Like many birds, the bat is an incarnation of the souls of the dead. Because it haunts caves and ruins, it is generally considered to be an image of the restless or unhappy soul, the Underworld, and melancholy. Among the Maya it is thought to be the destroyer of life and ruler of fire since it is the eater of light. To reach the Land of Death, Mayans must travel through the House of the Bat. The Tupinamba believe that a bat will swallow the sun at the end of the world. In Homer's Odessey the flight and cries of those in the Underworld are similar to those of bats. Because bats live in caves which represent tunnels to the afterlife, some Native Americans use them as symbols of rebirth. Bats are also associated with longevity. In Australia, it is thought that each bat contains the life force of a human; to kill a bat is to cause the death of the one whose life force it contains.

In some countries the bat is thought to be very intelligent. The Chinese say this animal hangs upside down because of its unusually heavy brains. In Africa, the bat is a symbol of intelligence and clear-sightedness because it seems to be able to see well in the dark. Its large ears imply that it has excellent hearing. In other countries the bat's swooping flight make it a symbol of ignorance, drunkenness and restlessness. At one time "bat" was a common term for people out for a night of drunken revelry. Many consider the bat blind, not only in the light, but also to reality. Hence the idioms "bats in the belfry"; "batty"; "old bat"; and "blind as a bat." Because it hangs upside down in caves full of its own dung, the bat is a symbol of moral depravity.

Although considered a bad omen in most countries Macedonia, China, and Poland consider the bat a fortunate sign. In China, the word "fu" means both "bat" and "luck." Red bats are most lucky since the color red is used to ward off evil spirits. Five bats, especially when produced by a magician, represent the five happinesses (wu fu) of Chinese life. These include: health, wealth, long life, peace or love of virtue, and a happy death. Bat's bones were worn in Macedonia as good luck charms while in Egypt the bat's head was cherished as a protective amulet. In many areas bats are associated with longevity since their caves lead to the homes of the Immortals and other heavenly places. The bat was also a symbol of vigilance. Its eyes were used in potions to prevent drowsiness and promote good eyesight. Other parts of the bat were used to ensure longevity, cure snakebite, and prevent plagues of ants and locusts.

In Samoa the war god, Sepi Malosi, appears in the form of a bat to lead warriors into battle if he believes they will be successful. If he thinks his tribe will lose the campaign, he flies towards them as if warning them to turn back. Ovid relates that Minyas' daughters were turned into bats for ignoring the wine god Dionysus (Met. 4.389f). While most legends say the bat flies at night to avoid the light, Aesop says he does so to avoid his creditors. The Plains and Southwestern tribes of North America consider the bat a trickster who flies at night in search of his wives who are terrified by his ugly appearance and the discovery that instead of bringing them food from the hunt, he had been feeding them on his own flesh. The bat is a companion of Diana (a.k.a. Artemis), who although a virgin was the protector of children and mothers. Since it is the only animal which both nurses its young and flies, the bat is symbolic of motherhood. In both Africa and America the bat is associated with rain. Isaiah says that in the Day of the Lord men, running to hide in the caves of the earth, will throw their idols to the bats (Isa 2:20-21).

All scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible unless otherwise indicated.