Motif
enduring or conjugal affection represented by birds
enduring_or_conjugal_affection_represented_by_birds
A motif of the Sacred Love and Longing family, within the sub-family Faithful Spouse. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
roman
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The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 7178-7276 confidence: medium
After the deaths of Dædalion and Chione, Ceyx consults Apollo’s oracle at Claros and is shipwrecked on his return; Halcyone dies of grief or throws herself into the sea, and the pair are said to become birds identified with kingfishers and conjugal affection.
The explanatory note says the kingfisher was considered by the ancients to be a symbol of conjugal affection, and the old observer commends bird-love preserved to the end of existence.
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