SYMBOLISM OF THE FALCON

BY JACK

M. FREEDMAN

**SYMBOLISM IN ART THERAPY ** NCAT 3114A ** PROF. CLAUDIA BADER**

Different schools of thought can be used to interpret the intricacy of symbols. According
to Sigmund Freud, symbolism represents one's base desires and previous experiences in life. For
example, a sword would be representative of a phallic symbol and it's sheath would be
representative of a vaginal symbol. From Carl Jung's perspective, symbolism is used on an
archetypal level. He developed the tabula rasa theory, stating that culture is responsible for our
ability to produce symbols in our psyches and our minds begin as a clean slate. Such cultural
archetypes include the hawk and the dove representing war and peace in our modern world. The
symbol which I will explore in this presentation is the falcon.
If Freudian and Jungian principles were to be applied to the falcon, two diverse
interpretations would appear. In the Freudian philosophy, birds are considered phallic symbols.
The act of a bird flying would be representative of sexual intercourse. In relation to Freud's
teachings, Italian culture regards the bird as a penis. On the contrary, countries such as the
United Kingdom and France regard the bird as a term of affection towards a woman. While
Freud's theories may have been regarded as commonplace during his time, they have since been
rejected, as he predominantly worked with subjects with severe mental illnesses and had a
limited scope. Moreover, since every psychic and ethereal representation of a symbol was traced
back to a hidden sexual desire in his view, it was considered extremely narrow by his
counterparts.
According to Jung, the archetypal qualities of the bird would be evaluated in his analysis.

He would explore whether the bird was a predator or prey. Other aspects taken into account
would determine whether the bird was nocturnal or diurnal.
capabilities would be taken into consideration.

Moreover, the bird's social

Jung would turn to mythology to explore

different cultures and their use of symbolism. In the case of the falcon, its predatory and solitary
qualities dictate the significance of its symbolic usage. The mythological conceptualizations of
the falcon are eclectic. This presentation will explore the cultures in which the falcon has
significance, including Christian, Native American, Egyptian, Norse, and other mythological
writings. It will also explore the bird's role in modern culture, as well as personal symbolism it
has maintained in my life.
In Christianity, a wild falcon signifies an unconverted gentile, as well as the sins of
mankind. The tamed falcon represents one who has converted from Paganism to Christianity.
The convert casts aside his old way of life and becomes a new man. Since the falcon is regarded
as a bird of prey, it is considered overall to have ominous implications. However, hope is also
paramount to the meaning of this symbol, as it represents justice to those who are slaves and
those who are unjustly imprisoned. The falcon flies free into the wind after escaping the hand of
its master. Moral, emotional, and spiritual bondage are negated; as the falcon is a symbol of
liberty, freedom and victory. Keen vision, boldness, and swiftness are also qualities associated
with the falcon; as they have been used for sport in Europe, Japan, and China. In the trinity of
Jesus Christ, the falcon represents the Holy Spirit. As a Christian dream symbol, the falcon is
considered evil, as it is a bird that knowingly attacks other birds as prey. A precursor to Horus
and Isis, an Egyptian god and an Egyptian goddess, falcons are believed to be a model for the
Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Horus spearing a serpent may be later represented by St. George
slaying the dragon.

The path no bird of prey knows, Nor has the falcon's eye caught sight of it. -Job 28:7

In many Native American nations, the use of astrology is comparable to modern

astrology. The period from March 21-April 19 features the falcon as it's symbol. These dates,
correspond to the sign of Aries, a symbol of fire. The Native American regards the falcon as a
natural born leader who possesses clear judgment in problematic and adverse situations.
Moreover, this Native American animal symbol and those born during this time period are
ambitious and take the initiative. Its Aries counterpart shares these qualities, as astrology deems
it to be a cardinal symbol, denoting one that leads. Falcons are conceited and arrogant, but
usually because they tend to be correct in their assessments of situations. Although the falcon is
passionate, he or she remains compassionate. Unfortunately, the falcon can be vain, rude,
conceited, intolerant, and impatient. Since the falcon soars into the heavens, it is a solar emblem
for rising above a situation. Hence, we see the Aries connection again with its association with
fire. The totem of the falcon is a symbol of guardianship and wisdom. It oftentimes leads one to
follow their dreams and desires. It successfully undergoes transition and change.
In Egyptian culture, the falcon was worshiped because of its cosmic powers. It can often
be seen in hieroglyphics representing Horus, an avian deity. However, Horus is a general term
for a great number of falcon deities. Horus may have been known as lord of the sky. Her is
the derivation of the god's name. It means the one on high or the distant one. This probably
refers to the soaring flight of the hunting falcon. Mythologically, the falcon's right eye was the
sun and the left eye was the moon. The speckled breast feathers represented stars, while the
wings were the sky that created the moon.

Horus was an early representation and was

assimilated with other local falcon gods. Later, Horus became a symbol of the pharaohs and a
national god. As a sun god, he appears in early pyramid texts and was the god of the rising and
setting sun. As both the falcon symbol and as the son of Isis, Horus was linked with Egyptian
kingship. The Golden Horus name is represented as a divine falcon with the hieroglyphic sign
for gold. In sculpture, Horus is a full falcon, shown in profile with the tail feather turned in the
direction of the viewer. In early examples, the falcon is leaning forward. In later times, the
upright stance was used. In Egyptian art, Horus became one of the most widespread images.
Horus was venerated throughout Egypt and was represented either by a full fledged falcon or a
man with a falcon's head. In both cases, the falcon is wearing the double crown of Egypt.
Whereas the Egyptian manifestation of the falcon represented masculinity, the falcon in
Nordic mythology was an icon of femininity, as evidenced by Freyja and Frigga. Freyja is the
Norse goddess of love and Frigga is the queen of Asgard and the wife of Odin. Both goddesses
have feathered cloaks with the ability to transform them into falcons. Interestingly enough,
archaeological sites have included falcon bones in the graves of women. Female falcons can be
twice as large and twice as strong as male falcons. Their ability to secure larger prey made them
more prized than their male counterparts.
Australian Aboriginal mythology dictates that the moon was in possession of fire.
However, the moon refused to share fire with mankind. However, a falcon confiscated fire from
the moon. In Teutonic mythology, falcons not surprisingly represent the wind. Mescalero
Apaches believe that falcons are a sign of good luck. In Greek mythology, the falcon is
associated with Circe, a goddess, sorceress, and nymph. In Peru, the falcon is a symbolic lord of
the air linked with the souls of kings or emperors.
Sir Gawain was a knight in King Arthur's court. The court was literally known as

Gwalchmai, which means hawk of May. Sir Gawain may be a version of the Irish hero
Cuchulainn, whose father was the sun. This name may relate to the falcon's solar associations.
Merlin, King Arthur's court magician, takes his name from a raptor that was sometimes used in
falconry.
In medieval times, falconry was a favorite activity in spring hunting. The lords and ladies
were luxuriously attired and held hooded falcons on their wrists. While on horseback, the
falcon's eyes were uncovered and they would eagerly begin hunting. The art of romance was
often compared to the hunt in medieval times. Metaphors from falconry were often used to
describe romantic relationships. In the poem The Falcon, Dietmar von Aist writes of a
comparison between a knight and a falcon. The knight longs for the falcon's return.
In 1405, the Isle of Man was given to Sir John Stanley by Henry IV, with the provision
that Stanley pay homage to the king. Moreover, Stanley gave the king two falcons. Every future
king of England thus received falcons on his Coronation Day. This tradition continued for over
400 years, until the coronation of George IV in 1822. The coat of arms of the Isle of Man
features a falcon supporting a shield.
William Shakespeare was enamored with the imagery of birds and the sport of falconry.
It was perhaps the most prolific image found in his plays. From the detailed accounts of the
sport in action, it was evident that The Bard of Avon had more than his fair share of experience
with falcons and hawks. In fact, the sport of falconry made appearances in more than several of
his works, including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming
of the Shrew, and Henry VI, Part 2. Bear in mind that the aforementioned plays consist of three
tragedies, two comedies, and one history. The following are quotes from some of his plays using
this symbol.

Macbeth: "A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place,

Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed"
-Macbeth (2.4.12-13).

Juliet: Hood my unmanned blood, bating1 in my cheeks,

With thy [night's] black mantle, till strange love grow bold,
Think true love acted simple modesty.
-Romeo and Juliet (3.2.14-16)

Othello: If I do prove her haggard2,

Though that her jesses3 were my dear heartstrings,
I'd whistle her off and let her down the wind
To prey at fortune.
-Othello (3.3.259-62)
In these verses, falconry takes on a number of different connotations. Macbeth's nuance
of a swooping falcon represents disorder in his kingdom. Juliet compares herself to a hawk who
must be tamed by her lover, Romeo. Othello compares his wife, Desdemona, to a hawk who has
reverted from being tamed to being a wild bird once again, suspecting infidelity on her part.
There have been a number of famous references to falcons in more contemporary times.
For example, Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, used the image of a circling falcon in his poem,
1
2
3

Bating: To beat the wings fiercely.

Haggard: A hawk which has grown in the wild to at least a year old, and is thus much harder to train than one
born in captivity
Jessing: Short straps of leather fixed to the hawk's legs, by which she is held.

The Second Coming. Later, Yeats made references that suggested connections between the
falcon and Horus. The image of the circling falcon also suggested a bomber, because the poem
was published during a brief peaceful period between WWI and WWII.
Another contemporary writer was Dashiell Hammett, the well known author of the 1941
novel, The Maltese Falcon. The title bird really existed. In 1080, The Knights of Malta was
founded. It was a religious order which provided care for poor and sick pilgrims in Jerusalem.
The Knights Hospitaller, in 1530, received a large territory from Holy Roman Emperor King
Charles V of Spain. This territory included an annual fee of a live, not bejeweled Maltese falcon.
Malta is now an independent sovereign state, recognized by the United Nations.
In creating the plot for The Maltese Falcon, Hammett drew upon the history of The
Knights of Malta. He explained this historical influence by saying, Somewhere, I had read of
the peculiar rental agreement between Charles V and the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of
Jerusalem. Hammett's fascination with the Crusades may have been associated with the Holy
Grail, the cup from which Jesus Christ drank at the Last Supper. In a literary sense, Hammett
associates Sam Spade, the protagonist, to a knight. Spade is the hero and the supporting
characters, seeking the falcon are dishonorable, greedy, and corrupt.
The falcon is a symbol of ruthlessness, similar to Sam Spade, the detective who pursues
the falcon in Hammett's novel. As discussed previously in Christian theology, wild falcons
symbolize evil and tamed falcons represented converted Christians and repentance. The falcon is
a symbol of one who will not rest until his objective is achieved. This obsession reminds readers
of Spade and his fellow falcon-hunters. In the novel, the falcon is in actuality a gold statuette
which was reduced to lead. This is a reversal of the common alchemical transmutation. As a
result, the chase is in vain. The value is cheapened and the chasers are foiled.

The falcon itself is a small, black figurine which is prized. A restaurant in San Francisco
was the setting for the film classic starring Humphrey Bogart. It had a replica of the statuette.
The item was signed by cast members from the film and was stolen from the restaurant in 2007.
It is interesting that Hammett used to eat at the same restaurant, as he lived nearby. In addition,
the Pinkerton detective office where he once worked was also nearby.
The lead and resin falcon replicas are currently valued at over $2,000,000. The falcon
itself was modeled after a hawk perched on a rock and the original was encrusted with red
garnets, amethysts, emeralds, and blue sapphires. Several falcon props were used during filming,
because Bogart dropped the original during the shooting. The original is on display in the
Warner Bros. Film museum. The tail feathers are noticeably dented from Bogart's accident. Two
47-pound lead falcons and one 4-pound, 5.4 ounce resin versions exist. In 1994, one of the lead
falcons garnered $398,500 at auction. The lead falcon was used as a model for a 10-pound gold
replica which was displayed at the 69th Academy Awards.

Adam Savage, co-host of

Mythbusters, has gone to great lengths to create an accurate replica.

These are examples of more contemporary tales and references in which the falcon is a
central figure. A story about a falcon was included within Giovanni Boccaccio's classic 14th
century collection of short stories, The Decameron. Federigo, a downtrodden man, suffers from
unrequited love for Fiammetta. This leads him to give her his prized falcon. She is so moved by
the gesture, that she agrees to marry him. In Jean Craighead George's 1959 children's novel, My
Side of the Mountain, the protagonist is a 12-year-old boy named Sam Gribley. One of his only
companions is a peregrine falcon named Frightful. This book received a Newbery medal in
1960. In 1975, James Clavell wrote the classic novel, Shogun. Falconry is a paramount theme in
the novel. Toranaga, a powerful overlord, is an aficionado of falconry. In the end of the novel,

he lets his falcon fly free and then lures him back with morsels of food. Shogun later became a
1980 television miniseries.
Star Wars, George Lucas' 1977 blockbuster, was a science-fiction spectacular. One of the
central objects in the film was the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo's battle cruiser.

Luke

Skywalker, a Jedi knight in training, referred to this ship as a piece of junk. However, it
proved useful, as its stellar speed was reminiscent of a falcon. In 1981, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
wrote Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Santiago Nasar, the main character, is a falconer. This was
adapted into a 1995 Broadway musical and garnered a Tony Award nomination. The Falcon and
the Snowman was a 1985 film starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. Hutton's character stole
classified information from his employer. Penn's character passed on the secrets to enemy
agents. Falconry served as a catharsis to for Hutton's character.
In the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums, Luke Wilson's character, Richie Tenenbaum,
keeps a pet falcon named Mordecai on the roof of his Brooklyn home. During the production of
the film, the bird playing Mordecai was kept for ransom and later replaced by another bird whose
feathers were white. This continuity error was explained as a traumatic experience for the bird.
From 2002-2005, a regular sketch called The Falconer was featured on the long-running
comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Will Forte's character in the sketch was in constant need of
rescuing by his falcon companion. In the television drama, Castle, it is revealed in an episode
that Detective Kate Beckett practices falconry as a method of developing self-respect.
As an artist, I have incorporated the falcon into many aspects of my artwork. Each of the
drawings that I decided to incorporate in my initial presentation are stylized versions of the
falcon. These sketches borrow styles that are reminiscent of ancient cultures and mythologies.
They include Egyptian hieroglyphics, a Celtic tattoo, a Norse falcon flying towards the sun, and

a totem pole. Also included is a sketch of a pair of falcons, namely a mother and chick.
Psychologically and spiritually, I have many connections to this bird.

My initial

fascination began while watching a film in the 5th grade. It was a projector film featuring an
episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color called Rusty and the Falcon. In this film, a
boy named Rusty finds companionship in a falcon with whom he bonds and trains. The sheer
beauty of the bird may have been lost on me at that age, but it would soon resurface in my
meditations.
Approximately five years ago, I went into a deep transcendental state and saw myself
flying. While I may not have seen my distinctive feathers or my reflection, I instinctively knew
that this was the animal spirit I embodied. The experience was a psychic manifestation of the
shared vision and insight possessed by the bird and myself. I have also considered the falcon to
be an animal of personal protection. While I do not necessarily consider myself predatory, I am
the kind of person who is brutally honest and forthright in my opinions. Sometimes, it may
come off as overt and blunt. This can oftentimes be construed as predatory, relentless, and
aggressive. I do not consider these qualities to be the crux of my personality, but I am self-aware
in that I know they exists and therefore keep it at bay. Sometimes it is successful. Other times,
not so much. The qualities only surface when confronted with an adverse situation, as falcons
are wont to react.
Other qualities that I possess reminiscent of falcons are unconscious and purely
serendipitous. After researching the cultural significance of these beautiful birds, I realized that
they could be incorporated in my personal history. As an example, I mentioned that the Christian
theology interprets the falcon to be an unconverted gentile. During my childhood, I lived next to
an Evangelical Christian family. While I am respectful of all peaceful religions, I was made to

feel like a lesser individual by virtue of my Jewish faith. The mother was very extreme and
dogmatic in her views and had witnessed to my family and myself about being saved.
Astrologically, I am a Gemini, which is a mutable air sign. While Native Americans see
it as a fiery bird, I regard it as airy, much like other birds of prey. However, the fire is still
present, as my ascendant is in Leo and my moon is in Sagittarius. Both of which are fire signs,
one fixed and one mutable. As mentioned previously, I have a fiery personality. However, it
also manifests itself in that I can be one who garners a lot of attention (namely with the color and
style of my hair), as well as be overly opinionated on political and spiritual issues. Thus, the
falcon embodies both dominant elements in my zodiac chart.
One quality that most people learn about me is my penchant for reading tarot cards. In
the Rider-Waite deck, the Nine of Pentacles features a woman with a falcon perched upon her
wrist. This card signifies a proverbial harvest. It is beneficial in that not only financial prowess
is in queue, but also the know-how to follow and achieve profitable goals. In the future, I hope
to embody this card and possibly draw it in a self-reading. I would also hope that it would have
a positive aspect in the spread, denoting that I am disciplined enough to follow my dreams.
In several respects, I have had unconscious connections to this bird. Three examples
immediately come to mind. When I was in junior high, I had a homeroom teacher names Miss
Lisa Falcone. She was one of my favorite teachers. Ironically, she was also a judge in the Staten
Island borough-wide science fair, in which I was a participant and garnered an honorable
mention on my project about diabetes. After I graduated from middle school, I attended Susan
E. Wagner High School. Was it a coincidence that the school mascot was a falcon? More
logically, I have a connection to the address 55 Water Street in lower Manhattan, because my
mother worked on the same street when she was pregnant with me. Moreover, it is home to two

falcons who have inhabited the office building at the aforementioned address.
The story begins with two falcons named Jack and Diane, named after the song by John
Mellencamp, known then as John Cougar. Since these birds mate for life, they were responsible
for producing nineteen chicks during the four year span of their relationship. Unfortunately,
Diane suffered from an arthritic wing and was retired to an animal sanctuary at Cornell
University. Jack soon met Jill, a falcon from Iowa. They took up residence together at 55 Water
Street in 2002. Their breeding habits are remarkable, as the peregrine falcon was deemed an
endangered species in the 1970's. Their status was due to to spraying of DDT after WWII, which
thinned their eggshells and resulted in death. By 2001, the falcons had made an incredible
recovery. Currently, thirteen pairs breed in New York City on bridges and buildings, as they are
drawn to the altitude of high-rises and the diversity of available food.
In summary, the falcon not only has a rich history throughout the ages, but it is also
psychically present in my life. However, I do have one final anecdote. I took an online poetry
course in 2010. My first submission to the class was a short poem aptly entitled, Falcon. I
conclude this project with the poem that has since been published.
From the greatest distances
I witness the targets
With keen vision and insight.
The prey must be caught
And consumed by myself and the master,
Whose gloved hand I grasp
Ferociously with my talons.
I dive for my delight,

Meticulously plummeting
Towards the rat race
And ascending with the goods.
I am the parabolic hunter,
Crafting valleys in the wind;
Gliding towards the moon.

Jack M. Freedman
Published in First Literary Review-East

WORKS CITED

Balisunset. Hawk and Falcon in Myths, Mythology, and Folklore. 8 Sept, 2008
(http://socyberty.com/folklore/hawk-and-falcon-in-myths-mythology-and-folklore/)

Boccaccio, Giovanni. Federigo's Falcon. The Decameron. annotated by Tony Miksarek.

2002. New American Library.
(http://litmed.med.nyu.edu/annotation?action=view&annid=12285)

Crisp, Tony. Dream Dictionary. New York: Dell Publishing, 1990.

Dunn, Jimmy. Horus, The God of Kings. 1996-2013 Tour Egypt.

(http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/horus.htm)

Falcon Christian Dream Symbol. Dream Interpretation. 2008.

(http://www.dream-interpretation.org.uk/christian-dream-symbols-falcon-christian-dreamsymbol.htm)

Falcon in Norse Mythology. Norse Mythology.

(http://www.norse-mythology.cba.pl/page,97,falcon.html)

Falcon Symbol: The Indigenous People of the United States. 2012.

(http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/falcon-symbol.htm)

Falconry and hawking::Life and Times Internet Shakespeare Editions. 2011

(http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/society/husbandry/hawking.html)

Frost, P. Falconidae Mythology & Folklore. 2000-2010.

(http://pauldfrost.co.uk/intro-to.html)

Holy Scriptures. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1958.

Maltese Falcon stolen from San Francisco restaurant. Kahn, Michael. Reuters.com 13 Feb,
2007
(http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/02/13/us-maltesefalcon-usn13189626270070213)

Peregrine Falcons: Nature's Most Remarkable Flying Hunter/The Story of Jack and Jill. 2011.
Peregrine Falcons::55 Water Street, New York.
(http://www.55water.com/falcons)

Stevens, Anthony. Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Symbols of Humankind. Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1998

Technobushi. Homepage. 5 Apr, 2011. Falcons, Myth and Meaning.

(http://thehornedgate.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/falcons-myth-and-meaning/)

Tresidder, Jack. 1,001 Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Imagery and it's Meaning. San

Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2003.

Tucker, Suzetta. ChristStory Falcon Page. ChristStory Christian Bestiary.

(http://ww2.netnitco.net/~legend01/falcon.htm)

Venefica, Avia. Homepage. 2 Oct, 2007 Symbolic Meanings.

(http://www.symbolic-meanings.com/2007/10/02/symbolism-of-the-falcon-meaning-of-falconsightings/)

Wolf-Sun, Zia. Homepage. 30 Oct, 2011. Raptors~Hunters on the Wing

(Http://ziawolf-sun.blogspot.com/2011/10/30/hawk-and-falcon-in-myths-mythology-and.html)