| Images of owls were painted or incised
on the walls of prehistoric caves in Europe. An eagle-headed deity in
bas-relief strides across an Assyrian wall panel of alabaster. The falcon
was honored by ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the pharaoh. It was also
seen as a manifestation of their cosmic deity Horus, and amulets in the
shape of the falcon's eye were worn for protection. In the New World,
the Aztecs built their capital city where an eagle landed, recording the
story in paintings that are the basis for the present-day Mexican flag.
Using four live birds of prey and a variety of cultural artifacts and
art, this program touches on cultures from the Orient to the plains of
western North America, from Africa to Central and South America to explain
how people around the world and across time have viewed these magnificent
hunters of the air. |
