Archetypal Animals

Since humans are in a position higher than animals, Jung believed that mankind often looks to animals as symbolic. Many cultures throughout the ages have believed that certain animals represent creative forces, or even the gods.

SNAKE

Rebirth & rejuvenation

Fertility Special knowledge Evil The underworld A primordial force Universal fear

Snake examples…

Medusa The symbol on

the medical sign The snake in the

Garden of Eden The term “a snake

in the grass” Others?

LAMB

Sacrifice Innocence Martyrdom

Lamb examples…

Children’s nursery rhymes, like “Mary had a little lamb..”

Sacrifices in Greek culture

Sacrifices in the Hebrew Scriptures

Others?

GOAT

Typically a masculine symbol

EvilNegative

associations

Goat examples…

Devil The term

“scapegoat” Others?

HORSE

Intelligence Manliness Power

Horse examples…

Ice Age cave art- horse is portrayed as very important

Pegasus Centaurs Mr. Ed Others?

BULL

Fertility Death and

resurrection Courage Manliness &

masculine strength

Potency

Bull examples…

Wall Street Bull Bull riding Minotaur Greek’s on the isle

of Crete revered the bull due to it’s ability to cultivate the earth and make it fertile for planting

Others?

COW

SacrificeWorship

Cow examples…

India’s sacred animal is the cow

Others?

WORM

Death Decay

Worm examples…

Ancient humans saw the decay of carcasses due to maggots

“Worm tongue,” the character with a poisonous tongue from The Lord of the Rings

Others?

BIRD

Messenger of the gods (humans saw the birds fly up to the heavens and associated them with the gods)

Freedom Peace Birds have both negative and

positive definitions depending on the type of bird (for example- raven or crow would be more negative- dove or eagle would be more positive)

Bird examples…

Hermes Messenger Pigeons Dove as the universal

symbol of peace The birds sent out to

find land in the story of Noah

The eagles in The Lord of the Rings

The owl in Harry Potter Others?