The meaning behind the animals of the Hogwarts Houses – the Ravenclaw eagle

Each of the Hogwarts Houses is represented by an animal, but it seems that the only two that have obvious connections to the characteristics valued by their assigned Houses are the Gryffindor lion and Slytherin’s serpent. In this post I’m aiming to find what the connection is between the golden eagle and the values of Ravenclaw House.

Golden eagles are said to symbolize skill, focus, determination, and vision. Golden eagles, as with all other animals that take flight, are associated with the air, which has proven to be vital to communication. Ideas and thoughts are communicated over the air through spoken word and through broadcasting to radio and television, so air has always been important for sharing knowledge.

Eagles are fantastic hunters, but they go about it in a calculated and strategic manner. Therefore, these birds of prey represent efficiency through planning and practiced skill. In Celtic lore, the eagle is associated with water and its oracle powers. The eagle’s extreme eyesight was thought to have the ability to see truth and look clearly into the future. All of the connections between eagles, vision, and oracles play into Ravenclaw’s great value of wisdom.

Ravenclaws aren’t just brains – they posses other qualities as well. Ravenclaws have their share of bravery. The number of Ravenclaw students in Dumbledore’s Army was second only to Gryffindors, and several Ravenclaws remained behind to fight in the battle of Hogwarts. The Native Americans used eagle feathers to make headdresses for warriors. They were given a feather for different honors or incidents of bravery, so the more feathers a warrior had, the more respected and honored they were. In Native American culture, the eagle is a sacred bird. It’s honored by the Cherokee with a special Eagle Dance that represents strength and power. Shamans also used the feathers for healing and clearing auras. The eagle represents a certain state of grace that can be achieved through hard work and understanding. They’re also associated with illumination.

Through this extremely brief history of what eagles represent, we can see that there is a clear connection between the Ravenclaw emblem and the concentration on wisdom and knowledge that the founder of the house held to such esteem.