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NATURE
In many cultures across the world,
members of the animal kingdom are
chosen as symbols of a particular
quality people would like to have.
When animals are used in this way
they are known as totems.MYTHICAL BEASTS
These creatures only existed in myths
and legends, but they hold real symbolic
meaning for many people. They may be
created from parts of different animals, or
mixes between human and animal forms.
Sometimes, they take the form of animals
with incredible powers.Monkey Three Japanese
monkeys symbolize
the principle “see no
evil; hear no evil;
speak no evil”.Beetle Amulets carved
to resemble scarab
beetles were the most
powerful symbol in
Ancient Egypt, and were
thought to give the
wearer eternal life.Toad The Aztecs thought
the toad was a powerful
symbol of life and rebirth,
while the Chinese associate
them with wealth.Dolphin These are
seen as symbols of joy,
love, and happiness.Unicorn A horse with
a twisted horn appears
in the legends of many
cultures. In China, it
represents gentleness.Snake Regarded as
a symbol of evil in
many cultures, it can
also represent re-birth
as it sheds its skin.Eagle Seen as
wise and majestic
creatures, a cry from
these usually silent
birds is said to foretell
a big event.Carp This fish is a
symbol of strength in
Japan and other parts of
Asia, perhaps because it
swims against the
current of the river.Makara An aquatic
creature from
Hindu mythology,
makara is part fish,
part crocodile. It
symbolizes love.Dragon This giant beast,
which features strongly
in Chinese mythology, is
a symbol of power, said
to be able to spit fire.Salamander This
creature is linked with
fire, and may represent
the righteous who
have escaped the
flames of hell.Minotaur This
ferocious creature from
Greek mythology has
the body of a man and
the head of a bull. It is
a symbol of conflict
between reason and
animal instincts.Centaur In Greek mythology,
this half-man, half-horse beast
symbolizes the instinct of an
animal with the judgment
of a human.Four-leaf clover Most
have three leaves, so
superstition has it that
finding one by accident
brings good luck.
Owl A symbol of death in
some parts of the world,
in other cultures owls are
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