Some tough battles were fought yesterday, and we sadly sat goodbye to 2 more very loved owls. Both matches came down to the end and we’re very close, so condolences to about half of you. I know I was rooting for the Flammy, his rise to fame has been very fun to watch develop.
But they’re not going far, we’ll be back to normal pics very soon! No pressure then, just happy clicks!
Any new thoughts on the contest or owl things in general?
Anything you’d like to see coming up?
I’ve got a few ideas for year end review stuff, but otherwise I’m just ready to wrap this contest up. It’s been super fun, but especially now, I don’t have any prep time since I need to know who wins before I can do anything, hence the re-used pic highlight reel for today. I’ll grab some new pics to add for all of them shortly.
I wonder if any culture doesn’t have an owl legend? Some animals pop up a lot like lions, tigers, and many different other birds, but the owl may be the only one I can think of that has been significant to everyone since the beginning of humans and storytelling. I think that is really awesome!
The tragic fact is there were probably quite a few legends, morals, fables, and stories about Mesoamerican animals. Most of those were violently erased.
I do know this, owls were considered a portent of death, in fact chicuatli (be it barn or screech) is the day bird of Mictlantecuhtli (Lord of the dead lands) assigned on chicuacen (six) day of any trecena (13 day week) of the Tonalpohualli (sacred calendar / count of days).
From our chats, it sounds like you’ve read a lot about the chicuatli, and if you ever want to do an article about it, I’d love to read it. I feel I got a fairly negative portrayal of the Aztecs in school, but as you said, much has been lost about the original inhabitants of the Americas. We owe so much to Mesoamerican knowledge of agriculture and nutrition, and I’m sure a number of other things.
Alternatively, if you can get me some good sources, I could try to do something too and you could fact check it for me before posting. I’m down for a collaboration.
Another tragedy because I basically only know remedial information. I’ve done what research I can on the Nahuatl word chicuatli because I was born on the sixth day of a trecena. Went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out which owl it refers to. Information online about Mesoamerica is either sparse, inaccurate, or purposely repugnant so I buy physical books for my research on “Aztecs”. Not the most efficient way of learning.
I’ve thought about doing an article, but the idea of me being fundamentally wrong about a subject about another culture fills me with dread. Even if I did my best work with earnest intentions the byproduct may still come out evil.
Best to obsess over Aztecs, read your obsession with owls, and root for my screech owl to win.
Ah, I thought you were of Aztec descent. I worry sometimes when I talk about things in Australia and New Zealand, and even some parts of Europe because I’ve never been to any of those places, and I just have to trust what I read too. At least they’re here to correct me, but you can’t really do that easily with a culture largely lost.
I’m glad to see you still doing your best to keep the knowledge alive though. That type of thing is very important I believe. I’m no expert on owls myself. I just wanted to get this place off the ground, so I just dove into it. I love learning, but I never thought I’d end up learning so much about owls though! I hope most of what I present to all of you is factual.
Keep up the good owl work. You at least got a history nerd from Texas to check out owl facts on the regular.
Thank you! I always enjoy when you check in!
Go chicuatli!
Hahaha, that’s actually “tecolotl” the great horned owl. That’s the day bird for day mahtlactli (ten) which is the day bird of Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror). See what I mean this stuff is complicated, kinda why I love it. Check it out the owls are day six and day ten on the border of this page/plate.
Hah, these guys sure took some artistic liberties with their designs. They’re all pretty awesome though. I’m sure tecolotl is hoping chicuatli avenges him though!