Songbirds and Birds of Prey

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Sparrows that adorn the grand entrance of Woods Memorial Hall, 2012

Songbirds and birds of prey are carved into the Longmeadow brown sandstone that line the left side of the grand stairway into Woods Memorial Hall.  Similar to the lions above them, these specific birds each symbolize aspects of both Christianity and mythology.

Three species of birds were selected as ornamentation for the facade of Woods Memorial Hall: an eagle, sparrow, and an owl. The eagle is most often associated with Evangelist Saint John in Christianity but also symbolizes resurrection and baptism and in Greek mythology, the eagle was Zeus' messenger.  The sparrow -- often associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite -- represented love, beauty, and joy.  In Christianity, the sparrow is specifically referenced in Psalm 102:7, "I watch and become like a sparrow alone upon the housetop."  Similar to the sparrow, the owl is also referenced in Psalms.  Psalm 102:6 is a prayer for "an afflicted person who has become weak and calls out a lament to the lord...'I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.'"  The owl is also the symbol of ancient Athens and the bird of Minerva the goddess of wisdom whose image can be seen above the door at the top of the grand staircase into Woods Memorial Hall. 

Songbirds and Birds of Prey