In medieval Europe, a complex and often troubling relationship existed between Christians and Jews. This period was marked by widespread anti-Judaism, with various symbols and metaphors used to malign Jewish communities. One of the more intriguing and insidious of these was the comparison of Jews to owls.
The Owl as a Symbol of Darkness
The owl, a nocturnal bird often associated with darkness and mystery, became a potent symbol in medieval Christian thought. Its night-time activities and haunting calls rendered it a creature of the night, perceived as shunning the light.
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Medieval Christians believed that Jews, by rejecting Jesus Christ as the “Light of the World,” preferred to live in spiritual darkness. This belief dovetailed seamlessly with the owl’s nocturnal nature. Just as the owl operates in darkness, Jews were thought to refuse the illuminating truth of Christ’s teachings, thus dwelling in metaphorical darkness.
Owls, particularly species with prominent ear tufts, were often depicted with features resembling horns. This visual characteristic further reinforced negative stereotypes about Jews. The association of horns with Jews originated from a mistranslation of the Hebrew Bible. In the Book of Exodus (34:29-35), a passage describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai with rays of light emanating from his face. The Hebrew word “karan” can mean “to shine” or “to grow horns.” When translated into Latin, this passage rendered Moses as having “horns” rather than “rays of light.” This mistranslation, perpetuated through centuries of Christian art and literature, contributed to the belief that Jews had horns, symbolizing their supposed malevolent nature.
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The Owl and Illness
Owls were also frequently associated with illness and death, due to their eerie nocturnal habits and their presence in places of decay and ruin. This association found its way into medieval medical manuscripts, where owls often appeared in the margins of texts dealing with disease. One notable example is the appearance of the owl beside passages discussing the bubo, a swollen lymph node associated with the bubonic plague.
This visual association served a dual purpose. It acted as a mnemonic aid for physicians and medical students, who could quickly identify sections of text related to specific ailments by the presence of an owl, as the owl’s name in Latin is “bubo.” More sinisterly, it reinforced the notion of owls—and by extension, Jews—as harbingers of illness and death.
Detail from “The Rutland Psalter”, (c1260), British Library Add MS 62925. fol 63r
The Bubonic Plague and Antisemitism
The connection between owls, disease, and Jews was further cemented during outbreaks of the bubonic plague. Jews were often scapegoated and accused of causing the plague, a reflection of the deep-seated prejudice and fear within Christian communities. The presence of the owl in medical texts discussing the bubo—a hallmark symptom of the plague—thus took on an added layer of meaning.
The owl beside the bubo passage was not merely a mnemonic device but a visual representation of the sinister forces believed to be at work. In the minds of medieval Christians, the owl symbolized the Jews’ supposed role in spreading disease and darkness. This unfounded belief led to horrific acts of violence and persecution against Jewish communities during plague outbreaks.
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The comparison of Jews to owls in medieval thought reveals the deep-rooted and multifaceted nature of antisemitism during this period. The owl, a creature of darkness and ill omen with horn-like ear tufts, became a powerful symbol used to reinforce negative stereotypes and justify persecution.
Through the lenses of religion and superstition, medieval Christians viewed Jews as rejecting the light of Christ and spreading illness and death, much like the owl that haunted the night and the margins of their medical manuscripts. This symbolic connection contributed to the tragic history of scapegoating and violence against Jewish communities in medieval Europe.
Medical Treatises England: c.1475-1500 Sp Coll MS Hunter 251 (U.4.9) 55 r
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon.
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Top Image: Detail of a miniature of an owl from a bestiary, England, 2nd quarter of the 13th century, British Library Harley MS 4751, f. 47r
By Lorris Chevalier
In medieval Europe, a complex and often troubling relationship existed between Christians and Jews. This period was marked by widespread anti-Judaism, with various symbols and metaphors used to malign Jewish communities. One of the more intriguing and insidious of these was the comparison of Jews to owls.
The Owl as a Symbol of Darkness
The owl, a nocturnal bird often associated with darkness and mystery, became a potent symbol in medieval Christian thought. Its night-time activities and haunting calls rendered it a creature of the night, perceived as shunning the light.
Medieval Christians believed that Jews, by rejecting Jesus Christ as the “Light of the World,” preferred to live in spiritual darkness. This belief dovetailed seamlessly with the owl’s nocturnal nature. Just as the owl operates in darkness, Jews were thought to refuse the illuminating truth of Christ’s teachings, thus dwelling in metaphorical darkness.
The Owl, Horns, and Mistranslations
Owls, particularly species with prominent ear tufts, were often depicted with features resembling horns. This visual characteristic further reinforced negative stereotypes about Jews. The association of horns with Jews originated from a mistranslation of the Hebrew Bible. In the Book of Exodus (34:29-35), a passage describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai with rays of light emanating from his face. The Hebrew word “karan” can mean “to shine” or “to grow horns.” When translated into Latin, this passage rendered Moses as having “horns” rather than “rays of light.” This mistranslation, perpetuated through centuries of Christian art and literature, contributed to the belief that Jews had horns, symbolizing their supposed malevolent nature.
The Owl and Illness
Owls were also frequently associated with illness and death, due to their eerie nocturnal habits and their presence in places of decay and ruin. This association found its way into medieval medical manuscripts, where owls often appeared in the margins of texts dealing with disease. One notable example is the appearance of the owl beside passages discussing the bubo, a swollen lymph node associated with the bubonic plague.
This visual association served a dual purpose. It acted as a mnemonic aid for physicians and medical students, who could quickly identify sections of text related to specific ailments by the presence of an owl, as the owl’s name in Latin is “bubo.” More sinisterly, it reinforced the notion of owls—and by extension, Jews—as harbingers of illness and death.
The Bubonic Plague and Antisemitism
The connection between owls, disease, and Jews was further cemented during outbreaks of the bubonic plague. Jews were often scapegoated and accused of causing the plague, a reflection of the deep-seated prejudice and fear within Christian communities. The presence of the owl in medical texts discussing the bubo—a hallmark symptom of the plague—thus took on an added layer of meaning.
The owl beside the bubo passage was not merely a mnemonic device but a visual representation of the sinister forces believed to be at work. In the minds of medieval Christians, the owl symbolized the Jews’ supposed role in spreading disease and darkness. This unfounded belief led to horrific acts of violence and persecution against Jewish communities during plague outbreaks.
The comparison of Jews to owls in medieval thought reveals the deep-rooted and multifaceted nature of antisemitism during this period. The owl, a creature of darkness and ill omen with horn-like ear tufts, became a powerful symbol used to reinforce negative stereotypes and justify persecution.
Through the lenses of religion and superstition, medieval Christians viewed Jews as rejecting the light of Christ and spreading illness and death, much like the owl that haunted the night and the margins of their medical manuscripts. This symbolic connection contributed to the tragic history of scapegoating and violence against Jewish communities in medieval Europe.
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon.
Top Image: Detail of a miniature of an owl from a bestiary, England, 2nd quarter of the 13th century, British Library Harley MS 4751, f. 47r
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