Birds in Mythology Trivia Quiz

Answer: Horus

Horus was one of the major gods of Egyptian mythology. He was also the god who defeated Seth the God of Evil. It is Horus's eye portrayed in the famous Egyptian eye symbol.

Answer: Thunderbird

The Thunderbirds were massive birds that were seen in storms, although beyond that there was little known of them.

Answer: Dog

The Simurgh was highly intelligent and was rumoured to have great healing powers, it was able to cure even the worst of wounds that would otherwise be fatal.

Answer: Garuda

Garuda was a relatively prominent character in Hindu mythology, his most famous role is in the Ramayana.

Answer: Tengu

The Tengu were expert swordsmen and lived in treetop cities. They were known for their dislike of Buddhism, often destroying temples.

Answer: It was able to tell if an ill man would die.

The Caladrius resembled a white crow. It would only eat from the king's table yet it was allowed to do so because of its useful ability.

Answer: Benu Bird

The Benu Bird would always return to the top of a great spire in one of the Egyptian cities. It was sacred to the gods and so was never harmed.

Answer: Phoenix

The phoenix is one of the animals, like the dragon, which is found in both Eastern and Western mythology. In both it is quite spectacular and highly colourful. The time interval between regenerations is not clear, with different sources providing different, often vague, descriptions of the cycle. According to Hesiod,
"A chattering crow lives out nine generations of aged men,
but a stag's life is four time a crow's,
and a raven's life makes three stags old,
while the phoenix outlives nine ravens."

A bit of arithmetic gives the phoenix a life span of more than 9 x 4 x 3 x 9 (972) times the length of a human life. Dante made it 500 years - which gives humans a very short life span if Hesiod was right!

Answer: Gryphin

Gryphons are another widespread mythological bird. They are found from classical times up until the medieval age and their portrayal changes little.

Answer: Harpies

The Harpies' most famous reference was in the story of Jason and the Argonauts. In the legend the Harpies are plaguing a man who knows of information about how to reach the Golden Fleece. He only grants this information once the Harpies have been driven off.

Answer: Learning and Wisdom

Thoth was another of the major Gods of Egypt. He was also the patron of magic and was an invaluable adviser to the other gods.

Answer: The Owl

The Owl of Athena symbolised the fact she was the goddess of wisdom and as such was sacred; in contrast the Romans considered the bird to be a symbol of evil.

Answer: Roc

The Roc was a massive bird in legend; it was believed to live on the island of Madagascar. Interestingly, Madagascar did actually have a species of giant bird which died out in relatively recent times.

Answer: Memory and Thought

Odin used his two Ravens to gather information for him in the hope that something they would discover would avert the terrible Ragnarok.

Answer: Serpent

Quetzalcoatl was the most important Aztec god; he sailed away and would one day return. This legend allowed the conquistadors to get into Mexico as the Aztecs believed their leader was the god Quetzalcoatl returned.