Golden eagles in human culture

Last updated

1870s illustration of burkut falconers in Kazakhstan Hunting with Golden Eagles.jpg
1870s illustration of burkut falconers in Kazakhstan

Mankind has been fascinated by the golden eagle as early as the beginning of recorded history. Most early-recorded cultures regarded the golden eagle with reverence. Only after the Industrial Revolution, when sport-hunting became widespread and commercial stock farming became internationally common, did humans started to widely regard golden eagles as a threat to their livelihoods. This period also brought about the firearm and industrialized poisons, which made it easy for humans to kill the evasive and powerful birds. The following are various reportages of the significance of eagles, many likely pertaining to the golden eagles, in early cultures and older religions as well as national and military insignias.

Contents

Ancient mythology

The Ancient Egyptian sun god Horus was depicted as having the head of a falcon, and was important as a deity representing the Pharaoh. Horus played an important role, too, as representing resurrection, being the son of his mummified father Osiris and mother Isis. The Greeks and Romans believed Zeus and Jupiter respectively to be represented by the eagle.

Falconry

Russian depiction of Mongolian falconers fox-hunting with a golden eagle. E. TIKhMENEV. Okhota s berkutom.jpg
Russian depiction of Mongolian falconers fox-hunting with a golden eagle.

Golden eagles can be trained to be highly effective falconry birds, though their size, strength, and aggressiveness require careful handling to control the risk of injury to the falconer. [1] They have been used in this practice at least since the Middle Ages. In Asia, they were reportedly used in teams to hunt such animals as deer, antelope and wolves. Concurrently in Europe, their use for falconry was typically reserved for emperors and kings, which is why the common names for the golden eagle in various European languages roughly translate as the “royal eagle”. [2] In the United States falconers seldom use golden eagles, as the similarly aggressive Ferruginous hawk is more available and provides a similar hunting experience with most of the same game species with lower risk of injury to the falconer. [3] The most common interaction of American falconers with golden eagles is in trying to avoid them in order to reduce golden eagle attacks on their trained birds. [4] The very athletic golden eagle is approximately as swift as the large falcons, is quite willing to attack smaller raptors when the opportunity is available, and is often capable of flying down a falcon or hawk. Experienced falconers will consequently not fly their birds if golden eagles are spotted, and usually prefer to fly later in the day when the golden eagles have typically already fed.

The culture in which falconry with golden eagles is prominent today is amongst the Kyrgyz people of the Tien Shan Mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. [5] This practice is also culturally prominent in western Mongolia and Xinjiang. [6] [7] There are around 250 active eagle hunters in Bayan-Ölgii Province of Mongolia, and 50 in Kazakhstan. [8] [9] In these cultures, the golden eagle is considered a highly valued working animal which will be used for 15 years or more. Falconers carry their bird on a gloved right hand, usually with a wooden brace to support its considerable weight. In the Tien Shan Mountains, falconry mostly occurs in late fall and early winter. It is possible for up to 30 to 50 foxes to be caught by a single eagle during this season. [10]

Full-grown wolves are not believed to be viable prey for wild golden eagles; they are too dangerous due to their large size and large, powerful bite. [11] Despite this, falconers occasionally use golden eagles to hunt wolves. The steppe wolf (Canis lupus campestris), a relatively small-bodied race of wolf at around 35 kg (77 lb), is the main wolf reportedly hunted by golden eagles in falconry. [10] There are records that some experienced golden eagles successfully kill subadult or even adult wolves. [12] However, even a well-trained golden eagle has a risk of injury so most falconers do not risk casting a mature eagle at an adult wolf. [13] Some wolves prove particularly challenging quarry: there is the tale of one that was injured by 11 successive eagles but foiled their attempts – killing each one – until it was finally dispatched thanks to the efforts of a twelfth eagle. [12]

Heraldry and myth

Albanian Flag Flag of Albania.svg
Albanian Flag
Mexican coat of arms Coat of arms of Mexico.svg
Mexican coat of arms
Coat of arms of Egypt Coat of arms of Egypt (Official).svg
Coat of arms of Egypt

The golden eagle is the most common national animal in the world, with five nations—Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico and Kazakhstan—making it the national animal. It is also a common motif in the national symbols of countries that have not officially made it the national animal or national bird. The reasons for this are various, but among the nations that use the golden eagle as or in a state symbol, there are two clear traditions that help explain the modern usage. Among European countries, the golden eagle was the model for the aquila , the most prominent symbol of the Roman legions and more generally the Roman civilization that had such a powerful impact on Western culture; furthermore, some classical Roman traditions were carried on by the Eastern Roman Empire in the Southern and Eastern of Europe and the Holy Roman Empire in Central and Western Europe, transmitting the use of the golden eagle to several modern states. This association of the golden eagle with Rome has also led to the adoption of similar symbols in other countries; for instance, the adoption of the related and physically similar bald eagle as the national bird of the United States was inspired by the conception of the United States as a modern reincarnation of the Roman Republic, a theme that recurs in other elements as well (including the prevalence of neoclassical architecture in American public buildings and the use of Roman terminology—such as naming the upper house of Congress the Senate—to hark back to the Roman model). Adolf Hitler used a golden eagle regularly as a symbol for the Nazi Party, including large monuments or statues on buildings and bridges as well as the pins worn on lapels of Nazi officers. In this case, the eagle was used as to stir up nationalism, since it was a longtime symbol (Hoheitszeichen) for the German Empire dating back centuries in use for the coat of arms of Prussia and the Holy Roman Empire. [10] [14]

Another large tradition of using the golden eagle can be found in the Arab world, where the eagle is historically a symbol of power in Arabic poetry, and was according to legend the personal emblem of Saladin. The specific depiction of golden eagle legendarily considered to be Saladin's was adopted by the Arab nationalist movement, and currently appears on the arms of Egypt, Iraq, and Palestine; it had previously appeared on the arms of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967–1990) and on the arms of the Libyan Arab Republic (1970–1972). The current emblem of Yemen displays a golden eagle, but it is not that of Saladin.

Religion

Lleu rises in the form of an eagle. Image from The Mabinogion, Charlotte Guest, 1877. Lleu.jpg
Lleu rises in the form of an eagle. Image from The Mabinogion, Charlotte Guest, 1877.

Eagles are often prominent in The Bible, though are sometimes mixed with carrion birds and are not specifically identifiable to species. As the most widespread eagle in the Middle East and Eurasia, certainly many said references must pertain to the golden eagle. The use of eagles seems generally heavier in the Torah or the Old Testament than in the New Testament. In biblical times, eagles and other meat-eating birds were banned from being eaten since their diet was considered unclean. [15] However, eagles are mentioned in the Bible as being admired for their swiftness, [16] great physical power [17] and their seemingly endless endurance. [18] Eagles are one of four dimensions of creation, [19] as a messenger of God, [20] and a skilled predator. [21] Eagles are also widespread in the Bible for symbolism. [10] For example, due to the perceived high level of parental care, eagles were associated with protection and even paralleled to God carrying the Israelites out of Egypt. [22] However, the biblical word for eagle is also utilised for the Cinereous vulture, [23] [ page needed ] and it is likely that it actually is the subject of most of these verses.

Many Eurasian cultures and faiths also feature eagles quite prominently. In Hellenistic religion, the golden eagle is the signature bird of the god Zeus, a connection most notable in the myth of Ganymede, where the god adopted the form of a golden eagle to kidnap the boy, as well as the eagle-like daimon Aetos Dios. [24] At least a few sources also associate it with Helios. In Norse mythology, the golden eagle sits atop Yggdrasil, the great ash tree that runs through the universe. A squirrel, Ratsatosk, carries messages and insults between the eagle at the crown and a serpent gnawing at the tree roots. [25] In many cultures, eagles were viewed as a link between terrestrial mankind and celestial deities. [26] Eagles were particularly prominent in Roman culture. Many banners, coins and insignias from Rome feature eagles. In Roman religion, the eagle was both the symbol and the messenger of the Roman sky-god, Jupiter. When an emperor died, his body was burned in a funeral pyre and an eagle was released above his ashes to carry his soul to the heavens.

Eagles play a small role in Celtic mythology. [27] The eagle is said to be the oldest of birds, and a form that may be taken by a deity or other mythological figure. [28] In the Welsh tale of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, the protagonist escapes death at the hands of a hunter by taking an eagle's form and killing the hunter who assaulted him. [28]

In North America

A ceremonial head-dress made by the Nez Perce people from the tail feathers of juvenile golden eagles in what is now Idaho NEPE Head-dress.jpg
A ceremonial head-dress made by the Nez Perce people from the tail feathers of juvenile golden eagles in what is now Idaho

In ancient North America, eagles were more prominent than in Eurasia. The eagle is still considered a sacred bird in many Indigenous American cultures. The feathers in particular are central to a number of religious and spiritual ceremonies. While most prominent among the Plains cultures, eagles are also held sacred in the spiritual ways of a number of Native Americans in the United States and First Nations Peoples in Canada, as well as among some of the peoples of Mesoamerica.

Feathers are often worn on Native American headdresses and have been compared to the Bible and cross of Christianity.[ citation needed ] Some nations use eagle feathers in the construction of prayer sticks, doctors’ rattles and sacred medicine pipes. Per Thomas E. Mails: "in the mind of the Plains warrior in the 18th and 19th century, the male golden eagle flew above all the creatures of the world and saw everything. Nothing matched his courage and swiftness, and his talons had the strength of a giant's hand. The eagle was very holy." [29] The tail feathers of juvenile golden eagles are used in some ceremonies as well as to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery. [29] several Sioux communities have an “eagle dance”, where the dancers imitate the motions of a flying eagle, accompanied by a traditional song for the eagles. Historically, plains warriors have not been allowed to use weapons when capturing eagles for their feathers. The most common method to capture golden eagles is to lay a trap, consisting of an earth-colored tarp, with a dead jackrabbit on it, over a pit containing a crouching warrior. When the eagle comes to land on the tarp, the warrior grabs the eagle by the top of its feet to pull it in and kill it. The hunter may simply take some feathers and let the bird go free. If the warrior fails to grab the eagle properly it sometimes results in serious injury to the human. [29] Among the Hopi people, one of two eagle nestlings (it is strictly forbidden to capture one unless there are two nestlings in the nest) may be captured and raised with great care, until it reaches an age where feathers can be taken. [30]

Current United States eagle feather law (50 CFR 22) stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use. Thus, the supply of eagle material for traditional ceremonial use can be guaranteed and ceremonial eagle items can be passed on as heirlooms by their traditional owners without the restrictions that would usually apply. Commercial trade in golden eagles or their feathers or body parts is not legalized by these exceptions. [31]

In Aztec religion, eagles are associated with the god Huitzilopochtli. Eagle warriors were one of the two main leading military special forces of the Aztec armies.

Postage stamps

The golden eagle is the eighth-most common bird depicted on postage stamps with 155 stamps issued by 71 stamp-issuing entities. [32] [33]

Other uses

J. R. R. Tolkien used an image of an immature golden eagle from T. A. Coward's 1919 work The Birds of the British Isles and Their Eggs for an illustration depicting Bilbo Baggins awaking next to Gwaihir, a giant eagle of Middle-earth. [34]

American aircraft manufacturer Cessna manufactured its Model 421 series of aircraft between the late 1960s and mid-1980s, calling the type the Golden Eagle.

Before every football game, Auburn University has a golden eagle fly around the stadium as tradition, despite the official school athletic name being the Tigers. [35] Kent State University, named the Golden Flashes, eventually refined the nickname to refer to a golden eagle. [36]

Golden Eagle Syrup, an American syrup company, uses a Golden eagle as their logo. [37]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falconry</span> Hunting with a trained bird of prey

Falconry is the hunting of wild animals in their natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey. Small animals are hunted; squirrels and rabbits often fall prey to these birds. Two traditional terms are used to describe a person involved in falconry: a "falconer" flies a falcon; an "austringer" keeps Goshawks and uses accipiters for hunting. In modern falconry, the red-tailed hawk, Harris's hawk, and the peregrine falcon are some of the more commonly used birds of prey. The practice of hunting with a conditioned falconry bird is also called "hawking" or "gamehawking", although the words hawking and hawker have become used so much to refer to petty traveling traders, that the terms "falconer" and "falconry" now apply to most use of trained birds of prey to catch game. However, many contemporary practitioners still use these words in their original meaning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayan-Ölgii Province</span> Westernmost Mongolian province

Bayan-Ölgii is the westernmost of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. The country's only Muslim and Kazakh-majority aimag, it was established in August 1940. Its capital is Ölgii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoomorphism</span> Type of art

The word zoomorphism derives from Ancient Greek: ζῶον, romanized: zōon, lit. 'animal' and Ancient Greek: μορφή, romanized: morphē, lit. 'form; shape'. In the context of art, zoomorphism could describe art that imagines humans as non-human animals. It can also be defined as art that portrays one species of animal like another species of animal or art that uses animals as a visual motif, sometimes referred to as "animal style." Depicting deities in animal form (theriomorphism) is an example of zoomorphism in a religious context. It is also similar to the term therianthropy; which is the ability to shape shift into animal form, except that with zoomorphism the animal form is applied to a physical object. It means to attribute animal forms or animal characteristics to other animals, or things other than an animal; similar to but broader than anthropomorphism. Contrary to anthropomorphism, which views animal or non-animal behavior in human terms, zoomorphism is the tendency of viewing human behavior in terms of the behavior of animals. It is also used in literature to portray the act of humans or objects with animalistic behavior or features. The use of zoomorphism served as a decorative element to objects that are typically quite simple in shape and design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal worship</span> Glorification of animal deities

Animal worship is an umbrella term designating religious or ritual practices involving animals. This includes the worship of animal deities or animal sacrifice. An animal 'cult' is formed when a species is taken to represent a religious figure. Animal cults can be classified according to their formal features or by their symbolic content.

Takagari is Japanese falconry, a sport of the noble class, and a symbol of their nobility, their status, and their warrior spirit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle (heraldry)</span> Heraldic bird

The eagle is used in heraldry as a charge, as a supporter, and as a crest. Heraldic eagles can be found throughout world history like in the Achaemenid Empire or in the present Republic of Indonesia. The European post-classical symbolism of the heraldic eagle is connected with the Roman Empire on one hand, and with Saint John the Evangelist on the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medieval hunting</span> Aristocratic hunting practice

Royal hunting, also royal art of hunting, was a hunting practice of the aristocracy throughout the known world in the Middle Ages, from Europe to Far East. While humans hunted wild animals since time immemorial, and all classes engaged in hunting as an important source of food and at times the principal source of nutrition, the necessity of hunting was transformed into a stylized pastime of the aristocracy. In Europe in the High Middle Ages the practice was widespread.

Training raptors is a complex undertaking. Books containing advice by experienced falconers are still rudimentary at best. Many important details vary between individual raptors, species of raptors and between places and times. The keeping and training of any raptor is strictly and tightly regulated by U.S. state and federal laws. Anyone in the USA who is interested in flying raptors must seek out a state and federally licensed falconer to sponsor them through an apprenticeship period lasting two years at a minimum, and often considerably longer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahbaz (bird)</span> Fabled bird in Iranian mythology

Shahbaz is the name of a fabled bird in Persian mythology. It is described as having a body similar to an eagle, being bigger than a hawk or falcon, and having inhabited an area within the Zagros, the Alborz, and the Caucasus within Greater Iran. In ancient Persian mythology, the Shahbaz was a god who helped the Iranian peoples and guided the Faravahar to the Iranian lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolves in folklore, religion and mythology</span>

The wolf is a common motif in the foundational mythologies and cosmologies of peoples throughout Eurasia and North America, and also plays a role in ancient European cultures. The modern trope of the Big Bad Wolf arises from European folklore. The wolf holds great importance in the cultures and religions of many nomadic peoples, such as those of the Eurasian steppe and North American Plains.

Over 120 species of animals are mentioned in the Bible, ordered alphabetically in this article by English vernacular name. Animals mentioned in the Old Testament will be listed with their Hebrew name, while those mentioned in the New Testament will be listed with their Greek names. This list includes names of mythical creatures such as the griffin, lamia, siren and unicorn, which have been applied to real animals in some older translations of the Bible due to misunderstandings or educational prejudices of the Greek and Latin translators. In the following list D.V. stands for Douay Version, A.V. and R.V. for Authorized and Revised Version respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural depictions of ravens</span> Depictions of ravens in literature and cultures

Many references to ravens exist in world lore and literature. Most depictions allude to the appearance and behavior of the wide-ranging common raven. Because of its black plumage, croaking call, and diet of carrion, the raven is often associated with loss and ill omen. Yet, its symbolism is complex. As a talking bird, the raven also represents prophecy and insight. Ravens in stories often act as psychopomps, connecting the material world with the world of spirits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting with eagles</span> Traditional form of falconry practised by the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz

Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian Steppe, practiced by ancient Khitan and Turkic peoples. Today it is practiced by Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz in contemporary Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as diasporas in Bayan-Ölgii Provinces Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia, and Xinjiang, China. Though these people are most famous for hunting with golden eagles, they have been known to train northern Eurasian goshawks, peregrine falcons, saker falcons, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Eagle Festival</span> Traditional Mongolian festival

The Golden Eagle Festival, or simply Eagle Festival, is an annual neo-traditional festival held in Bayan-Ölgii aimag, Mongolia. In the eagle festival, Kazakh eagle hunters (Burkitshi) celebrate their heritage and compete in lure-based and timed eagle handling events with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills both of the birds and their trainers. Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy, as well as for the best traditional Kazakh dress, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act</span> United States federal statute

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is a United States federal statute that protects two species of eagle. The bald eagle was chosen as a national emblem of the United States by the Continental Congress of 1782 and was given legal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This act was expanded to include the golden eagle in 1962. Since the original Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has been amended several times. It currently prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald eagles. Taking is described to include their parts, nests, or eggs, molesting or disturbing the birds. The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle of Saladin</span> Heraldic animal

The Eagle of Saladin, known in Egypt as the Egyptian Eagle, and the Republican Eagle, is a heraldic eagle that serves as the coat of arms of many countries; Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, and Yemen. Since the 1952 Egyptian revolution, the eagle has been an iconic symbol of Egypt, and of Arab nationalism, particularly in Arab states that underwent anti-imperialist political change from the 1950s onwards. It was formerly the national symbol of the now defunct United Arab Republic, North Yemen, South Yemen, and the Libyan Arab Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human uses of birds</span> Overview of humans uses of birds

Human uses of birds have, for thousands of years, included both economic uses such as food, and symbolic uses such as art, music, and religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kazakh art</span>

The art of Kazakhstan covers all forms of art created throughout history by the peoples living on the territory of modern-day Kazakhstan. Throughout most periods, much of the population of Kazakhstan was nomadic, or at least moved regularly across the vast country. The great majority of the art of Kazakhstan is applied art: the decoration of practical objects, including household utensils and patterned harnesses, through art forms such as carpet-weaving, pottery, and leatherwork. The art of Kazakhstan also includes architecture, fine arts, and sculpture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insignia</span> Sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function

An insignia is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body.

References

  1. Hollinshead, Martin (1995). Hawking with golden eagles. Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House. ISBN   0-88839-343-1.
  2. Warhol, Tom; Reiter, Chris (2003). Eagles. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 18–19. ISBN   0-7614-1578-5.
  3. Beebe, Frank (1984). A Falconry Manual. Hancock House. ISBN   978-0-88839-978-6.
  4. Dickinson, Rachel (2009). Falconer on the Edge. Houghton Mifflin-Harcourt. ISBN   978-0-618-80623-2.
  5. Miller Mundy, A. (February 1996). Riding in the Eagle’s Wake. The Field.
  6. Dementiev, Le vol a l'aigle au Turkestan. L'Oiseau el R.F.O. 1936.
  7. Ludlow, F.; Kinnear, N. B. (2008). "XLII.-A Contribution to the Ornithology of Chinese Turkestan.- Part III". Ibis. 75 (4): 658–694. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1933.tb03358.x.
  8. Abadilla, Emmie (March 25, 2012) Mongolia: Hunting With Golden Eagles. mb.com.ph
  9. "Kazakhstan's eagle hunters soar as other raptors fall prey to black market". CNN. 2012-07-25.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Watson, Jeff (2010). The Golden Eagle. A&C Black. ISBN   978-1-4081-1420-9.
  11. Brown, L. (1976). Eagles of the World. David and Charles. ISBN   0360003184.
  12. 1 2 Naish, Darrin (1996). "Using an eagle to catch and kill a wolf". Wildlife Society Bulletin. 24. Tetrapod Zoology: 468–470. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  13. Mykola Rud'. "Golden Eagle". Naturalist Magazine. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  14. Geoff Walden. "Nazi Eagles". Third Reich in Ruins. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
  15. Leviticus 11:13, Deuteronomy 14:12.
  16. 2 Book of Samuel 1:23; Jeremiah 4:13.
  17. Revelations 8:13.
  18. Isaiah, 40:31.
  19. Revelations 4:7
  20. Revelations 8:13
  21. Deuteronomy 28:49; Job 39: 27–28
  22. Deuteronomy 32: 11–12; Job 39: 27–28
  23. Karel van der Toom; Bob Becking; Pieter W. van der Horst (eds.). Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (PDF).
  24. "EAGLE OF ZEUS (Aetos Dios) - Giant Eagle of Greek Mythology". www.theoi.com. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  25. Doty, W.G. (Ed.). 2002. The Times World Mythology. Times Books, London.
  26. Armstrong, E.A. (1958). The Folklore of Birds. Collins, London.
  27. MacKillop, J. (1998). Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York.
  28. 1 2 Green, M. (1992). Animals in Celtic Life and Myth. Routledge, London and New York.
  29. 1 2 3 Mails, T.E. (1991). The Mystic Warriors of the Plains. Mallard Press, Lombard, IL.
  30. Fewkes, W.J. (1900). "Property rights among the Hopi". American Anthropologist. 2 (4): 690–707. doi: 10.1525/aa.1900.2.4.02a00070 . JSTOR   659316.
  31. USDCDN (1986), USFWS-SR (2001), USFWS-OLE (2004a,b), e-CFR (2008)
  32. Scharning, Kjell. "Bird Stamp Statistics". Theme Birds on Stamps. birdtheme.org. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  33. Scharning, Kjell. "Stamps showing Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos". Theme Birds on Stamps. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  34. Hammond, Wayne G.; Scull, Christina (1995). J. R. R. Tolkien Artist and Illustrator. Hammersmith, London: HarperCollins. pp. 120–21. ISBN   0-261-10322-9.
  35. "Fly down the field: Auburn's pre-game tradition to continue with Spirit and new golden eagle, Aurea". 25 July 2019.
  36. "What's a Flash? The history of KSU's mascot".
  37. Shiver, Joshua. "Golden Eagle Syrup". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Alliance. Retrieved 28 November 2021.