Scheda
In the Greek - Roman tradition the cock reigns over the night and is related to the moon. It is considered a watchful animal and attributed to Mercury. According to the classical mythology Alektruon (the cock) was a companion of Mars’ and his task was to wake him up when Mars was sleeping with Venus. At the beginning of Christian times it was related to Saint Peter (see Gospell Luke 22,34), but in the Christian funerary art it became the symbol of Resurrection. Furthermore, in Christian terms, it is connected with the idea of a preacher because metaphorically the cock announces the morning as well as the good message in form of crowing and therefore he awakens the heart of the people. As a matter of fact, in Italy, but even more often in France, the cock is displayed on top of churches, as it is a symbol of vigilance and sermon. According to Cesare Ripa (an Italian author), the cock (in connection with a torch) is a symbol for the process of learning. Ripa claimed, that if the cock is represented with the caduceus, it can even be connected to medicine.
Click here to introduction at funerary symbols.
Traduzione a cura della classe 5 H del Liceo Scientifico “Augusto Righi” di Bologna, nell'ambito del progetto di scambio culturale con il Liceo "Europaschule" di Bornheim, Germania, maggio-ottobre 2014.
