Dragonfly: Symbol for Evil?
A Great ContrastIn Japan, the dragonfly is well respected and admired as part of the connection between nature and culture. However, this admiration is not shared around the world. Although the dragonfly has significance in many cultures across the world the ideas about what they symbolize are different. In Europe, various cultural folklore consider the dragonfly to represent negative characteristics.
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European Folklore
- Romanian Folktale: Dragonflies used to be horses, until the devil possessed one
- Norwegian Culture: Dragonflies referred to as "Eye-Poker"
- Swedish Culture: Presence of dragonflies is an omen for tragedy
This is an interesting example of the contrast in representation of dragonflies in artwork between cultures. Franco-Flemish painter, Master of St. Giles, painted this depiction of the Virgin Mary and a young Jesus Christ. If you look close, you can see Jesus holding a dragonfly with his two fingers. This symbolizes Evil being subdued by Good. [9] |
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