Psyche (/ˈsaɪkiː/; Greek: Ψυχή, romanized: Psukhḗ Ancient Greek: [psyːkʰɛ̌ː]; Greek pronunciation: [psiˈçi]) is the Greek goddess of the soul and often represented with butterfly wings. Psyche was commonly referred to as such in Roman mythology as well, though direct translation is Anima (Latin word for "soul").
The butterfly has long been a Christian symbol of the resurrection, for it disappears into a cocoon and appears dead, but emerges later far more beautiful and powerful than before. The three stages of the butterfly's metamorphoses are symbolic of the three stages in the life cycle of Christ and the Christian.
In its metamorphosis from the common, colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, the butterfly has become a metaphor for transformation and hope; across cultures, it has become a symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over the physical prison, the ...
In Christianity, the butterfly symbolizes the resurrection of Christ and of believers.
Greek and Minoan. Aristotle gave the butterfly the name psyche , the Greek word for soul. Many cultures relate butterflies to the human soul. In ancient Greek the word for butterfly is "psyche" which means "soul", and was also the name of Eros' human lover.
Psyche was a mortal woman who was turned into the goddess of the soul in Greek mythology . She was the wife of the god Eros with whom she had a daughter Hedone . She was always depicted having butterfly wings .
Butterflies are not expressly found in Scripture, but as part of God's natural creation, they provide a beautiful picture of spiritual transformation. The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has striking parallels to Christian conversion, resurrection, and transfiguration.
Butterflies are seen as a symbol of foretelling and spiritual transformation in Christianity. In Catholicism, they are a symbol of rebirth, a strong theme throughout many religious texts.
The word for butterfly in formal Greek is psyche, thought to be the soul of the dead. Ancient Greeks also named the butterfly scolex (“worm”), while the chrysalis – which is the next stage of metamorphosis from a caterpillar – was called nekydallon, meaning “the shell of the dead” 2. Georgoulis KD. Psyche.
Are butterflies considered good luck? Some Native American tribes seem to think so. If you catch a butterfly, they say, whisper your wish to it and set it free. The butterfly will deliver your wish to the spirits, who will grant it.
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, pleasure and beauty. The Aphrodite Fritillary is a lovely summertime butterfly that produces one brood each year. It has many close relatives that look very similar to it making identification somewhat of a challenge.
The parnassian (Parnassius), also known as apollo, found in mountainous alpine regions in Asia, Europe, and North America, is a medium-sized butterfly, generally with translucent white, yellow, or gray wings with dark markings and usually a red or orange spot on the hindwing.
Monarch Butterfly Symbolism
“The monarch butterfly considered to be the king of butterflies and the most beautiful of all butterflies in the world,” Panescu says. “They represent strength, endurance, spirituality, trust, sustaining what they believe, transformation, and evolution.”
A butterfly blessing is the small, almost imperceivable brushings of God's reassuring presence – angel's wings as they surround you during hard times. It's the reminders in scripture that “I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth”.
Flora was in later times identified with the Greek Chloris (See HORAe). In works of art she was represented as a blooming maiden, decked with flowers. The personification of the spring season, and goddess of flowers, the wife of Zephyrus, mother of Carpos ("Fruit"). She was identified by the Romans with Flora.
Apollo was the god of practically everything – including but not limited to music, poetry, art, prophecy, truth, archery, plague, healing, sun and light (although the god is always associated with the sun, the original sun god was the titan Helios, but everyone forgot about him).
The Queen (Danaus gilippus) is a species of butterfly. It belongs in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America, Central America, and South America. Queen. Scientific classification.
Yellow. Yellow is a color of hope, guidance as well as a bright summer. Also, a flying yellow butterfly is believed to bring good luck. It is also a symbolic of child's departed soul who is resting in peace.
Some people will be surprised to learn that in addition to sensing ultraviolet light, butterflies can also emit ultraviolet light waves through their wings. Their wings are coated with minuscule scales that can reflect different color spectrums, depending on their shape and the angle of light that hits them.
There is no more striking symbol of transformation than a butterfly. From egg to larva, to leaving the safety of the cocoon and emerging as a butterfly in her unfurling glory, the transformation that takes place almost before our eyes symbolically represents hope and new beginnings.
The Adonis blue is the rarest of the blue butterflies in the UK. It is found on sunny, south-facing grassland that is rich in herbs. It doesn't travel far, so colonies can become isolated and vulnerable to extinction if their habitat is disturbed.
He was also often depicted with one or both of his two main attributes: a bow and a lyre. The bow symbolized distance, death, terror, and awe, while the lyre more gently proclaimed the joy of communion with Olympus through music, poetry, and dance.
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, playing a golden lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow.
Persephone is also able to spontaneously produce butterflies, although it is unknown if they are alive or just light-based illusions. When over-excited, she can transform into a cloud of butterflies, which first occurs during her and Hades' first kiss, transporting her away from Hades temporarily.
Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, had as her sacred animal the dove, among others.