Dove as the symbol of peace
Why is Dove a symbol of peace? This happens to be an exciting question. These birds are mostly white. In various situations, doves are used as a symbol of peace. From the beginning of History, multiple communities, Kingdoms, and Religions have been using doves as peace symbols. Egyptians were the first people to use doves in various occasions to announce the rise of a new pharaoh. Several religions and even military groups have also used them. Below are some of the beliefs, pacifist groups, and military groups that use Dove as a symbol of peace.
Paganism
In early Mesopotamia, doves were eminent animal symbols of Inanna-Ishtar. Inanna-Ishtar was the goddess of war, sexuality, and love. Doves are portrayed on cultic objects that are associated with Ishtar. Doves made of lead were unearthed in the temple of Ishtar at Assur in the seventeenth century. During the Middle Ages, Dove was sacred in Greece. The Greek goddess, Aphrodite, absorbed his association with the Dove from Inanna-Ishtar. In Japanese godlore, doves were seen to have Hachiman’s familiar spirit. Hachiman was the philosophical divinity of archery and war elements from Shinto and Buddhism.
Christianity
the Dove as a symbol of peace in the Bible is first met in the Old Testament book of Genesis. This is in the story of Noah and his Ark. After the floods, Noah sent a dove to confirm how the land is. The Dove came back with an olive-leaf. Noah, from the feedback from the Dove, knew that the water had drained off. This is in Genesis 8:11. In the new Testament, the Dove also appears when Jesus was being baptized. According to the Bible, the Spirit of God descends to Jesus as Dove. There are other instances in the Bible where the Holy Spirit appears in a dove’s body form. These are mentioned in the Gospels of Mark and John as well. In Christian illustration, doves symbolize the Holy Spirit; this is according to Mathew 3:16.
Islam
In Islam, doves are respected and highly favored, for they are believed to have aided the ultimate prophet of Islam, Muhammad, to distract his adversaries outside the cave of Thaw’s. it is said that, a pair of pigeons had built a nest and laid eggs some time back, a spider then had woven cobwebs which in the dark of the night made the enemies think that the prophet, Muhammad, was not in the cave.
Military groups
The Dove is the primary image in the crest of the Royal Air Force.. It is also in the Tactical communications; this is because of its relation to the homing pigeon.
Peace and Gandhism in politics
In most cases, doves are usually associated with the idea of peace and pacifism. They are found in political banners and also used in events, as signs to promote peace, for instance in Olympic Games. In 1952 in Berlin, during the World Peace Congress, Picasso’s Dove was shown in a banner.
Conclusion
To date, doves are still used and believed to be symbol of peace. They are used in various occasions and events to depict peace.