Animal Symbolism -  Artists - Lesson Plans/Curriculum The dove is a universal symbol of peace and innocence.  "In ancient Greek myth it was a bird of Athena which represented the renewal of life. In the Bible it was a dove released from the Ark by Noah which returned with an olive branch to show that the Biblical flood was over.  Ever since, the dove has symbolized deliverance and God's forgiveness. According to legend the devil and witches can turn themselves into any bird shape except the dove.  In ancient Japan the dove was sacred to Hackiman the god of war, but it was a dove with a sword that announced the end to war."  (from Thousands Cranes for Peace Network) You can see  versions of this symbol at Peace Pix page.  Symbols for Peace The Bestiary (Christian and other religions) A Bestiary is a collection of short descriptions about all sorts of animals, real and imaginary, birds and even rocks, accompanied by a moralizing explanation.   Additional Christian symbols of interest. Aberdeen Bestiary   The recorded history of the manuscript begins in 1542 when it was listed as No.518 Liber de bestiarum natura in the inventory of the Old Royal Library, at Westminster Palace.  Animals in Medieval Art Metropolitan Museum of Art Timeline Animal Symbolism - Various Cultures. List complied from Internet Sources. Contains many duplicates. Animal Symbolism Chart Very ice compilation of sources online. Celtic Animals in Celtic and Welsh mythology are tied in with fertility and vitality, because they are living, moving, and growing. Each animal is associated with a different characteristic  Digital Art of Daniel Lee - Watch the digital animation how animal transforms into man. See Manimals.  Ancient Egypt  Symbology must be studied in order to understand the culture-- for each nation had its own peculiar methods of expression. See Animals and the Gods of Ancient Egypt for a list of the god and goddesses and their animal spirits. Chart gives the hieroglyphics for the animals and a brief description. Also see Egyptomania Animals from Cleveland Museum of Art. Chinese – Zodiac animal symbols  Commercial tour site -  has brief summary of each characteristic.  12 Zodiac animal signs (About.com- has pop-ups)   Taoism and the Arts of China  EDSITEment Lesson Plan: Animals of Chinese Zodiac Animals in Art of India From Objects from India: Site created by Sir Robert Hitcham's Primary School, College Road, Framlingham, Suffolk, United Kingdom. Pre-Columbian Art: Animals played an important role in the art of ancient Columbia. Animals could be represented realistically or in fantastic guise, in whole or in part, and with or without human characteristics. Works representing animals are called "zoomorphic". Explanation of animals spirits in many cultures from book written by Sir James Frazer. (Pre-Columbian link was broken - a suitable replacement will be found) Animals in African Art University of Virginia - student web page. Native American Folk Lore Links to several stories of Native American Indian Lore from several Tribes across Turtle Island (North America). Native American Animal Symbolism - Not culture specific. From Indian Sun commercial site. Native American Animal Totems. Site by Lady Hawke. Totem Poles - site by Jamilla Johnston - See Symbolism for links to sites. Northwest Symbols - selected animal symbolism Native American Animal Totem - Horoscope   This is a commercial site - this section may be of interest as it lists various animals by month. Plains Indians symbolism Learn the importance of animal symbols in the Plains Indians' Sun Dance. Honoring the Animal Spirits In the Native American tradition, man communicated with the Creator through interaction with nature; the birds, the forest, the animals.... Many chose or were given symbolic "power animals" whose strength or character reflected the human character traits of the individuals claiming the "power" of that specific animal. That "tradition" carries on today in our society. Individual Stories included. More animals Native American - additional animal totems (This site now has pop-up ads) Native American – Totem Poles ThinkQuest site created by students. In Native American Culture, each animal represents a different quality or way of life. This site  a partial list of those animals and that qualities that they represent. (site temporally unavailable) Print Resources Rowland, Beryl. Animals with human faces; a guide to animal symbolism. [Knoxville] University of Tennessee Press [1973]. Werness, Hope B. The Continuum Encyclopedia of Animal Symbolism in Art / Hope B. Werness ; line drawings by Joanne H. Benedict and Hope B. Werness ; additional drawings by Tiffany Ramsay-Lozano and Scott Thomas. New York : Continuum, c2003. xvii, 476 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. Artists who Paint Animals James Audubon Specializing in birds National Gallery of Art Walton Ford - contemporary - Audubon style watercolors with social comment. Some works. See artnet Norm Magnusson -contemporary New York artist - see Animal Allegories Franz Marc German Expressionist Painter LeRoy Neiman Haitian Art - See Internet lesson  Haitian Art Links Henri Rousseau Robert Bateman Contemporary Canadian wildlife artist Virtual gallery from Art and Nature Daniel Smith - Montana wildlife artist. Site features African animals, American mammals, exotic animals and American birds. George Stubbs (English Romantic 1724-1806) Artcyclopedia: Artists Specializing in Animals  Animals in Art- Lesson Plans Lesson plans: Lesson plan: Animal symbols in Egyptian art  Metropolitan Museum of Art. Egyptians believed that the gods in their multiple forms revealed the creative and destructive forces of the universe. Animals in Art - Museum Lesson Plan for National Gallery of Art.  Chinese Zodiac - EDSITEment lesson Clay Whistle – Ocarina    Middle School Unit Plan: Our Relationship with Animals - created by Dr. Craig Roland's art education students at University of Florida. Includes suggested projects. Monumental Animal Sculpture - from Kennedy ArtsEdge Curriculum Materials: Amazing Animals in Art  Minneapolis Institute of Art . Images from the collection. (site was down last I checked) Amazing Animals in Art - a selection of images form Minneapolis Institute of Art.  Animals in Art from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Teacher packet available. Animals in African Art -  Teacher's guide Learn about animals symbolism, purpose and more. Animals and Creatures Abound - pdf files from Detroit Institute of Arts. Western Guide and Non-western guide. Artcyclopedia: Spotlight on Animals in Art Animals in Art I and II CD-ROM available from Crizmac Art and Cultural Education Materials Middle School Unit Plan: Our Relationship with Animals - created by Dr. Craig Roland's art education students at University of Florida. It is a work in progress. Students in his class used Wiki Spaces to collaborate on the unit. They designed this after studying "Backwards Design" model made popular by Wiggins & McTighe. Use the side navigation to view resources, suggested artists and more. Wild Things - Animals Role in Art From Amarillo Museum of Art. Examples of animals alone, animals with other animals and animals with people. See suggested activities with each section. Online Activities: Animals in Art Sahara the Scarab- learn all about Egyptian animals. Cleveland Museum of Art Discover Art - Creatures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Learn about various works in the collections and about the people who made them. Create your own creature. Art Safari Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art Explore the theme of animals in art through the work in the Museum of Modern Art. Take a “journey”—and adventure in looking at art.  National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Check out these fun online activities using the collection.  Museum home page. Switch Zoo Switch the animals' heads, legs, and tails to make new creatures at this surrealistic virtual zoo. Thousands of combinations are possible! New animals monthly.