eagle

eagle [L, MidE egle]. The large, diurnal bird of prey (genus Aquila) plays a surprisingly small role in Celtic mythology and iconography, compared to other European traditions. Gaulish examples appear copied from Roman models. In Irish and Welsh traditions the eagle is thought to be one of the oldest of animals; a Scottish Gaelic phrase describes it as sàr-eun [veritable bird]. Culhwch consults the ancient eagle of Gwernabwy in his search for Mabon. Several heroes, Fintan mac Bóchra, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Taliesin, and Tuan mac Cairill, take the form of an eagle, often in a series of transformations; the transformation into a salmon usually follows. In Irish folklore the hawk of Achill tricks an eagle by sending it on a fruitless errand while the hawk eats the eagle's chicks. The eagles of Snowdonia (W Eryri) in Welsh tradition were thought to be oracles of peace and war; flying high signalled victory, but flying low, crying incessantly, implied defeat for the Welsh. In later tradition the eagle may be associated with St John the Evangelist, with the sign of Scorpio in the zodiac, or with water as one of the four elements. In Irish and Scottish Gaelic folklore Adam and Eve are thought to be extant as eagles. See ERYR PENGWERN [The Eagle of Pengwern]. ModIr. iolar; ScG iolaire; Manx urly; W eryr; Corn. ēr; Bret. erer.