Eagles Facts, Myths, Legends and Superstitions

Eagles are Powerful Messengers Around the World and in Native Beliefs

The majestic eagle, sometimes called the king of birds, has been depicted in myth and legend since the beginning of time. Ancient Roman Deities, Kings, and Leaders all used the eagle as a symbol or sign of strength and courage. The Eagle is also the symbol of freedom to Americans, and a messenger from the creator for Native Americans. Jupiter believed that the Eagle could look directly into the sun, and many stories link Eagles to both the Sun and to Jupiter, as a symbol or sign of strength and courage. In this article you will find some myths, superstitions, and facts about eagles and their feathers. You will also find some great resources and Native American stories about eagles, as well as laws about possession and sale of birds of prey, including eagles and their feathers.

Eagles as Messengers
Eagles were said to have the ability to look directly into the sun

Interesting Eagle Facts, Myths, Legends and Superstitions from around the World
France: The fight of Roncesvalles was the theme of an archaic poem, the "Song of Altobiscar," written about 1835, about Roland, the nephew of Charlemagne, and the slaughter of thousands, where eagles came in the night and picked all the bones clean. Spain also has a version of this story.

Another very famous tale is of the Eagle and the Child. This is where a male child, usually dressed like nobility, was found either in or under an Eagles nest. These children were adopted and made heirs to gentlemen that didn't have a legal male heir.

Germany: The German Logo of an Eagle has gone back and forth over the years from a single headed to a double headed eagle and it always faced to the right. During WWII and the Nazi era, the eagle was changed to a single headed one, facing left carrying a swastika. This was probably because of the metaphor of invincibility that the eagle represented over the centuries.

After WWII the eagle changed again, facing right, back to how it was

before. The German eagle coat of arms is the oldest in the World, with the eagle representing invincibility.

Scotland: Sea Eagles were believed to have magical powers that helped them catch fish. They believed that when the fish saw the Sea Eagle (called Erne) the fish would rise to the surface, belly up to be caught. Siberia: A White Eagle was said to come to Olkhon Island at Lake Baikal in Siberia. One of the 13 Gods that the Siberians believed in came to the Island in the shape of a White Eagle and was said to be the son of God in Siberian legends. The old Shamans would sacrifice sheep to this White Eagle and he would watch over them and their land. Many similarities of Native Americans and Shamans (medicine men) of Siberia can be found, especially Shamans from Mongolia. One of the most common is a respect for the earth.

Australia: Aborigines have many tales of eagles as well as using the threat of an eagle getting them to control behavior of children (like the American boggy-man, and the Eastern European Baba). There is also an old myth about the Eagle and the Crow. In this myth the Eagle and Crow are cousins..and at that time crows were all white. The crows had a dance and didn't invite the Eagles...so afterward the Eagle, who had been watching them, saw them go into a cave to sleep, and burned them-turning them black. This is one of the most famous myths and has a few variations to this story.

Poland: The Crest of Poland is a White Eagle chosen over a thousand years ago when a ray of the red setting sun was observed to hit the White Eagles wings making it appear that the wings were tipped with gold. The legend of The White Eagle tells how Poland

began. Croatia A similar legend of Lech, Cech and Rus (but with only 2 brothers and the names somewhat different) and The White Eagle, however this time it is Croatia that is formed.

Belgium: The mythical gryphon (griffin) which is half eagle and half beast (head, talons and wings of an eagle with the body of a lion) was believed to know where gold could be found and it was said they made their nests (aeries) from it. This made the Gryphon a desired target, and eventually it was killed by the Belgian Huntress Nadine Legrand, over Copenhagen and displayed in a Danish Museum. This is the only stuffed example on display anywhere.

South America: According to legends, the spot on which an eagle landed dictated where the ancient Aztecs should build a city.

Eagle Repository in the United States

Where Native Americans can request Eagle Feathers
The Eagle Repository is the only place where it is legal in America to acquire eagle feathers. There is an application process which was updated to try to streamline the process. A registered member of one of the 564 federally recognized Indian tribes can fill out, and submit an application for possession to the Eagle Repository. It takes time, and some people have complained that the feathers or full eagle they receive are damaged and want to be able to have control of getting their own eagle parts.

It's important to keep in mind that all feathers, and dead eagles are shipped (frozen) to Denver in order that the Federal Government can distribute them legally to Native Americans for their cultural life ceremonies.