Observations placeholder
Totem group – Picts – Elements - Eagle [Air]
Identifier
026448
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE ATTRIBUTION HERE, THE SOURCES WE HAVE USED ARE UNCLEAR AND CONTRADICTORY.A description of the experience
The symbolism for the eagle is described in the entry in the symbol section found by using the link.
We believe that the Eagle was a symbol for the Air Element. The alternative if the Aether element, but there are no clues as to which might be correct - if any.
Pictish stones were used as signposts. They described in pictures the sacred site to which the pilgrim was being directed, they gave directions in which it was to be found and they gave the constellations that could be used for navigation by the stars. Every constellation has a symbol and each picture of the symbol then maps onto the constellation.
Possible constellation
Aquila is a constellation on the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for 'eagle' and it represents the bird that carried Zeus/Jupiter's thunderbolts in Greco-Roman mythology.
Its brightest star, Altair, is one vertex of the Summer Triangle asterism. The constellation is best seen in the northern summer, as it is located along the Milky Way. Because of this location, many clusters and nebulae are found within its borders, but they are dim and galaxies are few.
Aquila was one of the 48 constellations described by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy. It had been earlier mentioned by Eudoxus in the fourth century BC and Aratus in the third century BC. It is now one of the 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. Ptolemy catalogued 19 stars jointly in this constellation and in the now obsolete constellation of Antinous.
