Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



Etruscans with Uluxe and the Silculians with 

 Oulixes retained the earlier pronunciation. 

 We have seen that iEneas the dove hero was 

 the son of Aphrodite and took his name from 

 oinas, dove. Throughout his Hfe Ulysses was 

 the pampered favorite of Pallas Athene the 

 owl goddess ; in his name Oulixes, Uluxe we 

 find the ululation of the owl ! 



This explanation of Ulysses will not seem so 

 hazardous if one take the trouble to recall his 

 relations with bird gods and remember certain 

 main lines in his life. His adventure in steal- 

 ing the Palladium from Troy was a night 

 affair ; so was his expedition from ^aea to 

 Hades a night expedition ; and as an owl god 

 his visit to the infernal regions was in 

 character. The slaughter of the suitors of 

 Penelope was like the vengeance the owl 

 takes on the birds its mockers when even- 

 ing comes ; and indeed Pallas Athene is with 

 him at the time in the shape of a bird. 

 He visits Kirke, the poisonmixer and witch 

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