Tawny owl, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The tawny owl, ŭlŭla, derives its name from its mournful cries, which resemble weeping or moaning. Among augurs, its call is a sign of sadness, while its silence is seen as a harbinger of prosperity. Similar in size to a crow, this speckled bird is said to utter a dreadful howl from the marshlands. Symbolically, the tawny owl represents demons, heresies and other vices that dwell in a troubled mind. As Isaiah prophesied about Babylon: "The owl shall dwell there, and the sirens in the places of pleasure."

Tawny owls often symbolised negative aspects such as mourning, death, darkness and spiritual confusion. These representations were tied to the owl's nocturnal nature and eerie, mournful calls, which were perceived as omens of doom or ill fortune.

Ulula est avis a luctu vel planctu nominata. Cum // enim clamat; aut fletum imitatur; aut gemitum // non in alio Unde apud augures. filamentetur; tristiciam. tacens; // ostendere prosperitatem; Et est magnitudinis corvine. // sed maculis respersa. que rostro in palude fixo; or-// ribiliter ululat et stridet. Significat hec avis; //

The tawny owl, ŭlŭla, is named after mourning or lamentation, for when it cries, it sounds like it is mimicking weeping or moaning. Hence, among augurs, it is considered a sign of sadness but silence signifies prosperity. It has the size of a crow but is speckled and with its beak fixed in the marshlands, it utters a dreadful howl and screech. This bird mystically

mistice demones sive hereses et vicia alia quo(changed to que) // habitant in mente confusa. Unde ysaias de b-// bilone dicit post alia. Et respondebunt ibi ulu-// le; in edibus eius. et sirene in edibus voluptatis. //

represents demons, heresies and other vices that indwell a confused mind. Hence, Isaiah says concerning Babylon: 'And the owl shall dwell there; in its palaces, and the sirens in the places of pleasure.'

Further Reading

Mynott, J, Birds in the Ancient World (New York: Oxford University Press 2018)

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014), Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of fantastic beings from myth and magic (London: HarperElement, 2005)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

[1] Isaiah NKJV 13:21-22: But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, And their houses will be full of [a]owls; Ostriches will dwell there, And wild goats will caper there. 22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels, And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, And her days will not be prolonged.”