The Pious Pelican: Symbol of Sacrificial Love
Pelicans, with their majestic wings and graceful form, are natural marvels who also hold profound symbolic significance, particularly in the Christian tradition. Known for self-sacrificing behavior, pelicans came to symbolize Christ's sacrificial love and the Eucharist during the medieval period. This connection stems from an enduring (but erroneous) belief about their feeding habits — specifically, that a mother pelican would pierce her breast to feed her young with her blood in times of famine, embodying an act of selfless devotion.
While the biology of real pelicans doesn’t match this legend, their habit of pressing their beaks against their chests while feeding their young may have inspired this interpretation, which resonated deeply within Christian theology.
The pelican's act of "self-wounding" mirrored Christ’s crucifixion and the pouring out of His blood for humanity's salvation. Accordingly, the "Pelican in Her Piety" became a popular motif with deep religious and symbolic significance that often appears in church art. It’s not uncommon to see gravestones, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts and other works of art —particularly near altars and tabernacles — reminding the faithful of Christ's sacrifice in the Eucharist as well as the themes of redemption and selflessness.
Brown pelican by Frank W. Benson; 1915; from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art
Friendly pelican in Ft. Myers, Florida. Photo courtesy of The House of Good Fortune
Beyond Christian symbolism, pelicans are also rich with meanings in other traditions. In ancient Egypt, pelicans were associated with the Goddess Henet were considered protective creatures associated with the afterlife, often depicted in tomb art as guardians of the dead. In alchemical traditions, the pelican symbolized purification and transformation, particularly through its association with the alchemical process of solving and coagulating, mirroring the bird's perceived regenerative act.
In the natural world, pelicans are symbols of teamwork and resourcefulness. Their cooperative hunting methods and communal nesting behavior emphasize unity and the strength found in working together for a common goal. This quality resonates universally as a call to nurture collective wellbeing over individual ambition.
Thus, the pelican stands as a multifaceted symbol bridging the sacred and the natural, embodying themes of sacrifice, transformation, protection, and unity. Whether gazing upon these magnificent birds in nature or meditating on their spiritual resonance, one cannot help but feel a profound sense of awe and connection to the divine mysteries of life.
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross, Italy; 15th Century; from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art (note the pelican atop of the cross)
Gilded bronze pelican on lapis lazuli base by Paul Manship; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist
Brass plate with pelican in her piety; Nederlandish; 15th Century; from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Christ child with pelicans, from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Charity (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #38); Italian; 15th Century; from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Charity looks downcast at her lower left and toward her symbol, a pelican.
The pious pelican became a popular motif for opulent bejeweled creations during the late medieval and the Renaissance periods, where they would have been presented as votive offerings to religious shrines.
Pelican in Her Piety; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Pelican in her piety pendant jewel late 17th c.-early 18th c.; from the Royal Collection Trust
Pendant with pelican; Germany c. 1600, from the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art
Pendant with a Pelican in Her Piety, “probably Spanish”; first quarter 17th century; from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
A Final Thought
No post about pelicans would be complete without a reference to the famous line from Scarface, “Look at this pelican flying! C’mon Pelican!,” delivered by Al Pacino as Tony Montana while watching a flock of flamingoes on television from his bathtub.