Legends of the Wolves

Joana Gomez

Wolves are beautiful creatures that are perceived differently in many cultures. Some uphold them in a positive light, whereas others shine a negative light on them. 

In many European cultures, The Greeks associated the wolves with the sun god Apollo, Romans associated the wolves to Mars, God of war, and agriculture. In return, the Italian wolf became the national animal of the modern Italian Republic. In Serbian Poetry, the wolf is a symbol of fearlessness. Many Serbian Women in the 19th century named their newborn sons Vuk (Wolf) for protection. Believing that the witches who ate babies, wouldn't eat their kids since they were afraid of attacking the wolves. 

In the United States, the wolves were an important symbol for many tribes. According to the Pawnee Tribe, The Wolf Star was upset at not having been invited to attend a council on how the Earth should be made. It sent a wolf to steal the bag, which contained the first humans. Upon being freed from the bag, the humans killed the wolf, thus bringing death into the world. Native Americans have long seen the wolf as an animal of power. Many tribes credit the actual creator of the Earth to be a wolf. The Arikara and Ojibwe believed a wolfman spirit made the Great Plains for them and other animals. Many tribes consider wolves to be closely related to humans. 

Not only are wolves mentioned in cultures, but they were profoundly influential in literature as well. The bible contains 13 wolf references that are metaphors for greed and destructiveness. The wolf, repeatedly mentioned in the scriptures as an enemy of flocks. A metaphor for evil men with a lust for power and dishonest gain, as well as a metaphor for Satan, preying on innocent God-fearing Christians, contrasted with the shepherd Jesus who keeps his flock safe. The Roman Catholic Church often used the negative imagery of wolves to create a sense of real devils prowling the real world. According to the Malleus Maleficarum, the wolves are either agents of God sent to punish sinners, or agents of the Devil sent with God's blessing to harass true believers and test their faith. 

In North America, wolves viewed positively compared to Europe, which considers the wolves negatively. Wolves are seen as teachers or as enemies. They symbolize guardianship and loyalty, whereas other cultures symbolize them as death and destruction. Wolves represent different ideas for many people, but from what we know, they are caring and loyal animals that deserve saving.