Bird Gods

In this remarkable study reproduced for the Kindle Charles de Kay seeks to trace the origin of the mythological and religious meaning of birds through the ages. “Why I asked myself should certain birds have been allotted to certain gods and goddesses in the Greek and Roman mythology? Why should the eagle go with Zeus the peacock with Hera the dove with Venus the swan with Apollo the woodpecker with Ares the owl with Pallas Athene? It could not be mere chance that so many gods and goddesses had each their attendant bird; the attribution was too regular; it was done too much on a system. What was the original meaning of it all?” The book is illustrated throughout in fine style by George Wharton Edwards.