Stop! Peacocking In Progress! by sandra46
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Description
In the park of Eggenberg Schloss, Graz, Austria when the mating season calls, peacocks, well... are busy in peacocking! They display their elongated upper tail coverts—a magnificent green and gold erectile train adorned with blue-green 'eyes', trying to get the female's attention. If there are no peahens around, it looks that every female is good for a showy display of the mating dance. As it happened to these young moms, who had to wait for the gaudy male to do his dance, before being allowed to go on along the hillock.
The peacock was associated with the Middle Eastern deity, Tammuz, consort of the goddess, Anat. In Greece, it was sacred to Hera, queen of heaven and lawful wife of Zeus - a pair of them drew her chariot -, and they were kept at her temples. In the Roman Empire, peacocks were Juno's birds and on coins symbolized the females of the ruling houses, the lineage princesses.
The peacock's tail feathers are considered as linked to Bad Luck or an Evil Eye. Belief in the evil eye is strongest in the Middle East, East and West Africa, Central America, South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region; it has also spread to other areas, including northern Europe, particularly in the Celtic regions, and the Americas, where it was brought by European colonists and Middle Eastern immigrants.
Disks or balls, consisting of concentric blue and white circles (usually, from inside to outside, dark blue, light blue, white, dark blue) representing an evil eye are common apotropaic talismans in the Middle East, found on the prows of Mediterranean boats and elsewhere; in some forms of the folklore, the staring eyes are supposed to bend the malicious gaze back to the sorcerer (like the mirror with Medusa's gaze).
Probably the ancient Greek legend about the origin of the 'eyes' of the peacock tail sacred to Hera, mixed up with the transformations of the ancient Egyptian 'eye' of the hawk god Horus became congealed into the Middle Eastern talisman in the form of a protective 'eye'. In a Christian setting the protective 'eye' taliman as well as the peacock's 'eyes' were submitted to an inversion of meaning and became bringers of Bad Luck and Evil Eye. This is my opinion about it.If you know a different explanation, feel free to share it!
Thanks for your kind comments.
Comments (46)
Fidelity2
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C. 5+. Thank you. 5+.
Faemike55
Excellent capture and very interesting information
magnus073
This is such a stellar photo Sandra and really was a beautiful way to start my day. Really love her colorful tail and very much enjoyed the fascinating history you provided. Had no idea about their tail feathers being linke to bad luck.
Bossie_Boots
Amazing capture superb work !!
durleybeachbum
Wonderful..they should feel proud to be displayed to!
sharky_
Time to stop and enjoy its beauty. Nice shot. Aloha
brycek
Wonderful capture and information!!
flaviok
Texto e imagem extraordinários minha amiga, excelente, aplausos (5)
drifterlee
Gorgeous park and shot!
Umbetro38
a wonderful Park and POV
jac204
Great capture. How interesting that you have a park where peacocks roam around freely.
bazza
Great capture Sandra..
alanwilliams
if your going to be an exhibitionist, whats better than to be a Peacock? Nice one Sandra
tennesseecowgirl
Great information you provided with this wonderful shot. what amazing animals thsi world has.
mickeyrony
This make me think a little of birds paradise in Lasalle Quebec. Congratulations and many thanks and good job you are very generous with others my Beautiful ((5 + +)) Cela me fais penser un peu à Lasalle en Québec aux paradis des oiseaux . Bravo et mille mercis bon travail et très généreux avec les autres ma Belle ((5++))
jeroni
Beautiful composition. excellent work
jocko500
hahahah i not around them much but love to watch them
wysiwig
Peacocking sounds vaguely salacious. Another title might have been "Stop, pay toll!" Fantastic image and information. And what an experience for the little ones.
eekdog Online Now!
wow! quite the history you have, love your capture.
KatesFriend
Perhaps a little more charming than the Canadian Goose, who will also hold park wanders hostage while demonstrating its prowess and consternation. It is interesting how this one species of bird can have such a profound influence on so many cultures throughout the world.
Madbat
I thought they were symbols of the Persion emperors also, but I may be wrong about that.
mgtcs
Wonderful image my friend, gorgeous place my friend, amazing information, thank you!
dragonmuse
What a lovely place and lucky capture :) Interesting info too.
renecyberdoc
is there also a park where humans can peacock??i mean you know............forget what i wrote i am crazy and have not had my medication yet hehehe. excellent info and shot.
lyron
Beautiful capture!!
jayfar
Well seen and captured Sandra.
gonzojr
Great shot, I love it.
Rhanagaz
Fine capture and informative lines! Hope the moms took this as a compliment? ;o)
Hendesse
Great shot of this beautiful park.
mariogiannecchini
Bel parco ,bella immagine e ottime informazioni !