The Symbolism Of Wings - New Acropolis Library

The Symbolism of Wings

Article By M.A. Carrillo de Albornoz & M.A. Fernández

posted by India North, August 22, 2014

Wings are the symbol of lightness, spirituality, the possibility of flying and rising up to heaven. Wings are the expression of the aspiration of the soul towards a higher than human condition, in other words the aspiration to transcend the human condition. Wings are related to the cognitive faculty, imagination, thought, freedom and victory.

According to Hindus, wings are the expression of the freedom to leave earthly things behind as a result of contemplation and to reach Paradise. The Rig Veda sees wings as Intelligence, swifter than any bird. The Universal Architect creates the world with the movement of his winged arms.

In ancient Egypt, winged gods were protective gods. They protected creatures, covering them with their wings, as well as surrounding walls, enclosures and temples which doors were adorned with a winged image of Amon-R‚. The union of Butho, the snake, and Nekhbet, the vulture, representing respectively Lower and Upper Egypt, will give birth to a winged snake (similar to Quetzalcoatl, the well known Plumed Serpent of the Aztecs), symbolizing the union of Earth and Heaven.

In pre-Columbian cultures, wings are associated with the Sun, adopting the form of an eagle in Mexico, and the form of a condor in Peru. These solar birds are the symbol of the sky up to where they can rise thanks to their powerful wings. The bird represents regeneration, the work realized on Earth, that allows flight from one world to another, superior world; this reminds us of the Egyptian scarab that, after crawling on the ground, spread its wings at the end of its life cycle to rise in the sky up to the Sun. The humming bird represents the rising sun as well as the soul that rises from earth to heaven.

In Christian tradition, wings are associated with the light of the Sun of Justice that illuminates the Intelligence of the Just. God protects man with the shadow of his wings (Psalm). When man separates himself from God, he loses his own original wings. Angels are the purest expression of winged spirit.

In Greece, Hermes had winged heels, symbol of the traveller and the messenger, of dreams, of impulse, of movement. The Greeks represented Love and Victory with wings. According to Plato, wings represent Intelligence and Understanding. That is the reason why they are associated with certain fabulous animals, such as Pegasus, representing the sublimation of the specific symbolism of the animal.

Image Credits: By Moonlight-hero | Deviantart | CC By -NC-ND 3.0

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7 Comments

1. Mariann Burke says: December 17, 2016 at 10:08 pm

   This article is very interesting introduction with specific references to mythology,, different religions,etc.

2. Seby says: February 8, 2017 at 12:47 am

   I am courios about the symbolic meaning of two bird wings that I found on the roof of my house. Thank you

   Seb

3. 商務中心 says: March 23, 2018 at 5:41 pm

   Awesome post.

4. Lane says: July 9, 2019 at 8:10 pm

   Great explanation, by separating cultural views . Helped a lot. Thank GOD for you

5. Star Douglas says: November 19, 2020 at 5:12 pm

   I simply loved this…

6. Kenneth Kjax Kjalarr says: January 11, 2021 at 4:58 pm

   Thank you! for this article. Great explanation of the symbolic meaning of the wings.

7. Teresa Lewis says: January 19, 2021 at 10:40 pm

   I was searching for symbolism of the tip of right wing of angel broken..I have an angel state that is 15 years old that fell and the tip of the right wing broke off..a few months ago I purchased an angel crystal figure. I carried it in my pocket..after a couple days when I took out of my pocket, the right tip of wing had broken off. A few days ago I purchased another angel figurine to carry in pocket and when taking it out the right tip of wing was broke off!!! Just was wondering any spiritual symbolism in this happening? My first thoughts were that we are all a little broken..but it has happened 3 times!

What do you think?

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