The backwards looking bird is a mythical creature that has captured the imagination of people for centuries. While no physical evidence exists of its existence, legends and stories about this unusual bird have persisted across cultures and time periods. In this article, we will explore the origins and meanings behind the backwards looking bird, and why it continues to fascinate us even today.
What are the earliest known legends about the backwards looking bird?
References to a bird that flies backwards or looks behind itself date back thousands of years in multiple cultures across the world. In Ancient Egypt, there were stories of the Benu bird, which was said to create itself out of flames at the beginning of time. It was depicted in Egyptian art as a long-legged wading bird like a heron or phoenix, with its head turned backwards over its body. The Benu bird was associated with the sun god Ra and represented renewal and rebirth.
Ancient Greeks told legends of a two-headed bird called the Hoopoe which could look forwards and backwards at the same time. Sometimes depicted as a kingfisher-like bird and other times more like an owl or Phoenix, the Hoopoe was considered sacred and magical. Greek philosopher Aristotle even wrote about the legend surrounding this unusual bird in his writings on natural history.
In Chinese mythology, there is a mythical bird known as the Zhinu that had one body with two heads – one head facing forwards and the other facing backwards. It is linked to the forces of yin and yang in Taoist symbolism. According to the stories, the Zhinu bird was the beloved companion of Nuwa, the goddess who created humanity and wanted to always keep watch in both directions.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, some Native American tribes have folklore featuring birds with the ability to see forward and backward. For example, the Cherokee have legends about a bird called the Utsu’tlusgee that could look in all directions to keep watch over the land and stay vigilant. This protective quality gave the Utsu’tlusgee spiritual importance.
So while the backwards looking bird goes by many different names and depictions, it is clear that cultures across vastly different times and regions found meaning in the idea of a bird that could see both ways. But why did this specific trait capture the collective imagination?
What is the symbolism and significance of the backwards looking bird’s unique ability?
Many scholars believe the prevalent legends of the backwards looking bird reflect how valuable the trait of all-around vision was in early societies. Birds that can see in front and behind them would have been revered for their superior watchfulness and perception compared to humans.
In areas where many cultures believed that spirits, gods, and ancestors inhabited the natural world, a backwards glancing bird may have been seen as a sentinel – constantly looking out to observe any signs, messages, or threats from the spirit realm. Their special vision could pierce through our world into the realm beyond.
The backwards gaze of these mythical birds also connects to ideas of reflection, hindsight and foresight. To literally be able to see where you have been as well as where you are heading is powerful. The image of a bird twisting its head backwards over its body vividly represents the ability to review the past for lessons while still moving forward into the future.
For groups and individuals who felt vulnerable to forces beyond their control, the backwards looking bird was a hopeful symbol of maintaining awareness and balance at the same time. It offered the comforting idea of a vigilant guardian watching in all directions.
By exploring the varied mythological traditions involving backwards looking birds, we can glimpse the timeless human desire for wider perception, protection, and the ability to balance backwards reflection with forwards vision. These qualities help explain why the symbol of the backwards glancing bird remains intriguing even today.
What are some famous examples of the backwards looking bird in mythology and culture?
The backwards looking bird appears prominently in the stories and artwork of many cultures, especially in ancient civilizations. Here are some of the most celebrated examples:
Benu – Ancient Egypt
The Benu bird features in several Ancient Egyptian creation myths and was later adapted into the Greek Phoenix. It was typically depicted as a long-legged heron-like bird with a crescent-shaped crest and its head turned backwards. Egyptians believed this bird could renew itself cyclically just like the sun.
Hoopoe – Ancient Greece
This mythical bird blends attributes of multiple real bird species like kingfishers and hornbills. It was a sacred bird to the Greeks and even said to have rescued King Tereus after he was turned into a hoopoe. Many scholars think it may have originally been a mashup of Egyptian tales of the Benu combined with Greek folklore.
Zhinu – Ancient China
Chinese art and literature dating back to the Tang Dynasty features this twin-headed bird. It symbolized yin and yang dual forces and was a companion to the goddess Nuwa. The zhinu reminded people to remain vigilant and mindful of future and past.
Double-Headed Eagle – Native American cultures
Various Native American groups told stories of an eagle or falcon with two heads that looked both forward and back. It represented protection and Foresight for tribes including the Choctaw, Pueblo, and Cherokee. Many Native American depictions of this double-headed thunderbird inspired modern uses.
Sirin – Russian folklore
The Sirin was a magical bird from Russian legends that had the head and chest of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird. It was believed to be a portent of impending doom if you heard its enchanting song. Though not literally backwards looking, it signaled danger from behind.
These examples show the widespread symbolic importance and rich visual history of the backwards glancing bird motif across many ancient cultures. The shared desire to depict a bird that watches both ways reflects fundamental human concerns.
How is the backwards looking bird represented in modern culture and media?
While the backwards looking bird has its roots in ancient mythology, this compelling image still resonates in the modern world. It continues to be referenced in art, literature, company logos, media, and more. Here are some contemporary examples of the backwards looking bird symbol:
Logos and Advertising
The backwards glancing bird pops up in many company and product logos even today. For example, the Pontiac car brand created their chieftain logo in the 1950s featuring a Native American with a backwards looking headdress meant to evoke a two-headed bird. Tobacco company John Player used a backwards looking crane logo, and many other brands utilize the motif.
Movies
In the 2010 Christopher Nolan film Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character refers to the mythical backward glancing bird while explaining the dream sharing technology. He calls it a “totem” with special abilities. The bird helps viewers understand the film’s themes of distorted memory and perspective.
Television
A recent episode of Rick and Morty on Adult Swim centered around “Story Lord”, a novelist with a magical two-headed parrot muse called Onesie that represents dual perspective. This nod to the backwards looking bird allows the zany show to dive into issues of narrative reality.
Books and Poetry
Vladimir Nabokov named his acclaimed 1962 novel Pale Fire after a poem in the book referencing a “pale fire” bird that metaphorically looks back to the past. Many poets and authors continue to use the backwards bird as a symbol of memory and duality.
These modern references show this mythic bird still resonates strongly today. It appeals to our desire for self-reflection and awareness while moving forward in an uncertain world. The image represents nuanced perspectives that help us make sense of life’s complexity.
Conclusion
The enduring mythic symbol of the backwards looking bird beautifully embodies fundamental human hopes and needs. By literally or figuratively twisting its head to see in two directions at once, this unusual bird represents our timeless wish for wider perception, vigilance, hindsight and foresight. It assures us that what lies behind and ahead of us can be watched over. No wonder this evocative bird continues to fascinate us even today. While the worlds’ mythologies may differ, the backwards looking bird flies through them all as our winged sentinel guiding us to thoughtfully integrate past and future.