overwhelmed by the sun. So the egg does
embody the chain of creation, from the
developing chick back through the hen to the
plants that fed her, and then to the ultimate
source of life’s fire, the yellow sphere of the
sky. An egg is the sun’s light refracted into
life.
Many animals lay eggs, and humans
exploit a number of them, from pigeons and
turkeys to wild birds, penguins, turtles, and
crocodiles. The chicken egg is by far the most
commonly eaten in most countries, so I’ll
concentrate on it, with occasional asides on
duck eggs.
The Chicken and the Egg
Over the centuries there have been several
clever answers to the conundrum, Which
came first: the chicken or the egg? The
Church Fathers sided with the chicken,
pointing out that according to Genesis, God