DOVE SYMBOL AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE CONTEMPORARY FAMILY Cover Image

SIMBOLUL PORUMBELULUI ŞI IMPORTANŢA LUI PENTRU FAMILIA CONTEMPORANĂ
DOVE SYMBOL AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE CONTEMPORARY FAMILY

Author(s): Marian Pătraşcu
Subject(s): Anthropology
Published by: Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai
Keywords: Pigeon; Symbol; Love; Wedding; Couple; Flooding.

Summary/Abstract: The history of this pigeon, as a symbol, begins long, long time ago, before the birth of the christianity. Just in 5th and in 6th century of the pagan world are recorded different reprezentations in a various places, or on some objects in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Grece or Rome. The common culture gave this bird both negative and positive connotations. If we defer to popular superstitions, the pigeon is not bringing luck near the men’s house. On the other way, the pigeon symbolize tenderness, purity and faithfulness. Based on that the pigeon is mentioned in the Bible, when it bring’s the good news to Noe, that the flooding was stopped, news symbolized through the greened branch, there were created many stories and legends concerning the origins and the characteristics of this bird. Many books of the Bible talk very nicely about the pigeon, sometimes in poetry, specialy in that case when the lover is compared with the dove, or with a beautiful turtledove. But the thing that is the most important of this bird is its capacity of being faithful and for that, it can’t be equaled with any other being, created by God. So, the pigeon is choosing one pair towards is faithful all its life and when the pair dies, it remains alone to the end. The study of this bird is very important for those who want’s to deepen the theology, but also for us, the christians, because it offers a moral and faithful way of life, dedicated to a very strict purpose: nothing is more important than the family.

  • Issue Year: 57/2012
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 81-84
  • Page Count: 4
  • Language: Romanian