 – fossil (Early Pliocene of Odessa, Ukraine)
 Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V31030 (Late Pliocene) – Strix/Bubo?
 Ibiza owl, Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. – prehistoric

Symbolism and mythology

African cultures 
Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, it was believed that owls were harbingers of death. If one saw an owl or heard its hoot, someone was going to die. In general, owls are viewed as harbingers of bad luck, ill health, or death. The belief is widespread even today.

Asia

In Mongolia the owl is regarded as a benign omen. In one story, Genghis Khan was hiding from enemies in a small coppice when an owl roosted in the tree above him, which caused his pursuers to think no man could be hidden there.

In modern Japan, owls are regarded as lucky and are carried in the form of a talisman or charm.

Ancient European and modern Western culture 

The modern West generally associates owls with wisdom and vigilance. This link goes back at least as far as Ancient Greece, where Athens, noted for art and scholarship, and Athena, Athens' patron goddess and the goddess of wisdom, had the owl as a symbol. Marija Gimbutas traces veneration of the owl as a goddess, among other birds, to the culture of Old Europe, long pre-dating Indo-European cultures.

T. F. Thiselton-Dyer in his Folk-lore of Shakespeare says that "from the earliest period it has been considered a bird of ill-omen," and Pliny tells us how, on one occasion, even Rome itself underwent a lustration, because one of them strayed into the Capitol. He represents it also as a funereal bird, a monster of the night, the very abomination of human kind. Virgil describes its death-howl from the top of the temple by night, a circumstance introduced as a precursor of Dido's death. Ovid, too, constantly speaks of this bird's presence as an evil omen; and indeed the same notions respecting it may be found among the writings of most of the ancient poets." A list of "omens drear" in John Keats'
– fossil (Early Pliocene of Odessa, Ukraine) 
  Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V31030 (Late Pliocene)   – Strix / Bubo? 
  Ibiza owl, Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. – prehistoric 

 Symbolism and mythology 

 African cultures 
 Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, it was believed that owls were harbinger of end. If one interpret an owl or heard its boo, someone was go to die. In general, owl are viewed as harbingers of bad fortune, ill health, or end. The belief is widespread even today. 

 Asia 

 In Mongolia the owl is involve as a benign omen. In one story, Genghis Khan was shroud from enemies in a small coppice when an owl roosted in the tree above him, which caused his pursuer to think no man could be hidden there. 

 In advanced Japan, owls are regarded as lucky and are carried in the kind of a talisman or charm. 

 Ancient European and modern Western culture 

 The mod West generally associates owls with wisdom and vigilance. This link goes back at least as far as Ancient Greece, where Athens, noted for art and scholarship, and Athena, Athens' patron goddess and the goddess of wisdom, had the owl as a symbol. Marija Gimbutas traces veneration of the owl as a goddess, among other birds, to the acculturation of Old Europe, long pre - dating Indo - European cultures. 

 T. F. Thiselton - Dyer in his folk music - lore of Shakespeare says that " from the earliest period it has been considered a shuttlecock of ill - omen, " and Pliny tells us how, on one occasion, even Rome itself underwent a lustration, because one of them digress into the Capitol. He represents it also as a funereal bird, a monster of the night, the very abhorrence of human kind. Virgil describes its death - howl from the top of the temple by night, a circumstance introduced as a harbinger of Dido's end. Ovid, excessively, constantly speaks of this bird's presence as an malefic omen; and indeed the same notions respecting it may be found among the writings of most of the ancient poets. " A list of " omens drear " in John Keats'
 – flssil (Early Pliocene of Udessa, Ukraine)
 Strigidee gen. st sp. inaet. UMMP V31030 (Late Pliocene) – Strmx/Buvo?
 Ibuza owl, Strigidae gen. dt sp. indvt. – prehiwtormc

Symbolism and mythologn

Cfriczk culcuces 
Among the Klkuyu of Ketya, it was belhexeb that owls were harbingers of death. If one sww an owl or hgard ptf hokn, womeone was going to die. In gsneral, mwls are viewrd as harbingers of bad lufk, ipl health, or death. The belief is rudespread evdn today.

Aspc

In Mongoliz the owl is regarded as a benien omzn. In one sjody, Cenghis Khai was riding from cmemies in a skall coppice wmen ai owo roosted in the tree above him, which cwused his pbrsuers to think no mqn coulg be hidawn ghede.

Mn jodern Ja'an, owls ars regarded qs lucky and are catryvc in the forj of a twlisman or charm.

Ancient European and mogerh Western culture 

The midern West generally wssociatef owls with wisdom and vigilance. This link goes bdck av ueawt xw var as Ancient Greece, where Athens, noted for wdt akd scholarship, akd Athena, Athens' pstgom goddess and jhe godbssa of wisdom, had thf owl af a stmbol. Maryja Bimbutas traces veneration if the owl af a goddess, among ocher birds, tu thg cultire of Old Europe, long 're-datjng Indo-Eurlpean culfjres.

T. F. Thiseltov-Dyvr it his Folk-lore of Shakespewre says vhat "yrom the earkiest [eriod it jas bcan considered a bigd of inl-omen," and Pliny tells us how, on one occasion, even Rome idsenf undercent a lustration, bqcause one of jhem straved ingo the Capptol. He rxpresents it also as a futgreal bird, a konster jf tye nught, thd very abominatoon of human kind. Vurgil describes itx dgafh-howl from the tok if the temple ny vigrt, a cyscumstance ittroaucdc as x precursor uf Dodo's death. Ovid, too, wonsfantly speaks of tnif bird's kresence ws an evil omrn; and indeed the dame iotionr reslecjing it may be found among the sritings lf iost of the wncicnt koets." A lisc of "omens drear" in John Keats'
– fossil (Early Pliocene of Odessa, Ukraine) et indet. UMMP (Late Pliocene) – et indet. – prehistoric and mythology African Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, it believed that owls were harbingers of death. If one saw an owl or its hoot, someone was going to die. In general, owls are viewed as of luck, health, death. The belief is widespread even today. Asia In Mongolia the owl is regarded as a omen. In one story, Genghis Khan was hiding enemies in a small when an owl roosted in tree him, which his to no man could hidden there. In modern Japan, owls are regarded as lucky and are carried in the form of talisman or European and Western The West generally associates wisdom and vigilance. This link goes as far as Ancient Greece, where Athens, noted art and and Athena, Athens' patron goddess and goddess of wisdom, had the owl as a Marija Gimbutas traces veneration of the owl as a goddess, among other birds, to the Old Europe, long pre-dating cultures. T. F. in Folk-lore Shakespeare that "from earliest period it has been considered a bird of ill-omen," and tells us how, on one occasion, even Rome itself underwent because of them strayed the Capitol. He represents also a funereal bird, a the the human Virgil its death-howl from the of the temple by night, circumstance introduced as a too, constantly speaks of this bird's presence as evil omen; and indeed the same notions it may be found among the writings of most of the ancient A list drear" in John Keats'
 – fossil (Early Pliocene of OdesSa, Ukraine)
 STrigiDae Gen. Et Sp. inDet. UmMP V31030 (Late PlioceNE) – StrIx/Bubo?
 Ibiza owl, StrigidaE gen. eT sP. IndeT. – PrEhistOric

SymBOlISM anD mYtHolOgY

afRican CulTures 
AmOng the KikuYu oF KEnya, it was belIEvEd that owls WerE harbingers oF deAth. If oNe Saw AN owl oR heArd itS hoot, sOMeone wAs going to DiE. in geneRAl, owls aRE ViEwed As harbingers of bad LUcK, Ill health, or deaTh. The bElIEf IS WidEspRead even toDaY.

Asia

iN MongolIA tHE OWl iS Regarded as a beNign omen. In oNE stOry, GenGhIs KHAn was hIding FrOM enEmies in a smaLl coPpice when An owl rOOsted in THe tree aBove hiM, whIch CausED hIs PurSuERs tO ThInk NO maN could be HiDdEn theRe.

In MODERn JaPan, Owls Are reGarded as lucky And Are cARriEd in tHe forM of a TaLismaN or chaRm.

AncIeNt European and moDern western cuLtuRe 

the MoDern WESt geneRalLy aSsociatEs owls wITh wIsDOM AnD vigilance. This link GoES BaCk at leasT as far AS ANcIEnt GreecE, wHerE AthENS, noteD for ARt And scholArship, ANd atHena, AthEnS' patroN gOddEss And thE GoddEss of wIsdom, had The owL As a symbol. MarijA gimbutas traceS VeNERaTIon oF thE owl as a goddEss, aMOng oTher BIrDs, tO The cuLture Of oLd eUrope, long pre-dating INdO-EuropEan cuLtures.

T. F. ThiseLton-Dyer in HIS folk-lore Of ShAKeSPeare says that "fRom thE earliest pERiod it haS been ConsiderEd a bird of ILL-omen," and pliNy tEllS us HOW, oN one occasion, eVEN RomE iTself unDerWent a luStrAtiOn, bEcaUsE one of theM strayed InTo ThE CApiTol. He REpresentS iT alSo As a FunerEAl bird, A monsTer oF tHe NIghT, the verY AbOMInatIoN oF humAn kInD. VirgIl deSCriBes its dEath-howl fRom THe toP oF tHe templE by night, a circUmStance intrOdUceD as a prECUrsor of DIdo's death. Ovid, too, constanTLy speakS of This bIrd's Presence aS an Evil omEn; aND indeeD the saMe notIoNs rESPectiNG It May Be Found among THE wrItingS oF mosT of the aNcient poets." A list of "OMenS drear" in John KEatS'
 – fossil (Early Plioceneof Odessa,  Ukra ine )
St rigi daegen. et sp. in d et.UMMP V31030 (Late Plio cene)  – Stri x /B ubo? Ibizao wl , Str ig id aege n .et sp . i ndet. –  prehistor ic
S ymbolism and my thology

A fri can cultures  
A mong t he  Ki k uyu o f K enya,  it wa s  belie ved thatow l s were harbing e r sof d eath. If one sawa no wl or heard it s hoot ,s om e o newas  going todi e. In general ,  o w l s  ar e  viewed as ha rbingers of bad  luck,  i llh ealth,  or d ea t h.The beliefis w idespread  event oday.
A sia

In  Mongo lia  th e ow l  i sreg ar d eda sa b e nig n omen.In  o ne st ory, G e n ghis  Kh an w as hi ding from ene mie s in a s mallcoppi ce w he n anowl ro osted  i n the tree abov e hi m, whichcau se d h is  purs u ers to  th ink  no man  couldb e h id d e n  t here.

In modern J ap a n ,owls are  regar d ed  a s  lucky a nd  ar e ca r r ied i n th e  f orm of a  talis m an  o r charm .
Ancie nt  Eu rop ean a n d mo dern W estern c ultur e  

The modernW est generally as s o ci a tesowl s with wisd om a n d vi gila n ce . T h is li nk go es ba c k at least as far a sAncien t Gre ece, where At hens, note d f or art a nd s c ho l arship, and At hena,  Athens' p a tron god dessand thegoddess o f wisdom,had  th e o wla s  a  symbol. Mari j a  Gim bu tas tra ces  venera tio n o f t heow l as a go ddess, a mo ng  o th erbirds ,  to thecu ltu re  of  OldE urope,  long  pre -d at i ngIndo-Eu r op e a n cu lt ur es.
T.  F . Thi selt o n-D yer inhis Folk- lor e  ofSh ak espeare  says that "f ro m the earl ie stperiod i t has be en considered a bird of ill-ome n,"  andPlin y tells u s h ow, on  on e  occas ion, e ven R om e i t s elf u n d er wen ta lustrati o n , b ecaus eoneof them  strayed into theC api tol. He repre sen ts i t al soa sa  fu ne r eal b ird, a monsterof the nig ht ,  t he very ab o min at ion ofhuman k ind.V irgil d escribesits death -h owlf r omthe top of  the tem ple by ni g ht, a ci rcums tan ce int ro duc ed as  a pre c urs or of  Dido' sdeath.  Ovid ,too, con stantly speaks of thisbird's  pres enc e as an e vil ome n; and in deed  the samenot ion s res pec t ing i t ma y  b e f o und a mong the writi n gs  of m os t of the an c i e ntpoets ."A  listof " omens drear" in J o hn Keats'
 –_fossil (Early_Pliocene of Odessa, Ukraine)
_Strigidae gen._et_sp. indet._UMMP_V31030 (Late Pliocene) –_Strix/Bubo?
 Ibiza owl,_Strigidae gen. et sp._indet. – prehistoric

Symbolism_and_mythology

African cultures 
Among the Kikuyu of Kenya, it was believed that owls were harbingers_of_death. If_one_saw_an owl or heard its_hoot, someone was going to_die. In_general, owls are viewed as harbingers of bad_luck,_ill health, or_death. The belief is widespread even today.

Asia

In Mongolia the_owl is regarded as a benign_omen. In one_story,_Genghis_Khan was hiding from_enemies in a small coppice when_an owl roosted in the tree_above him, which caused his pursuers to_think no man could be hidden_there.

In modern Japan, owls are_regarded as_lucky and are carried in_the form of_a talisman_or charm.

Ancient European_and modern Western culture 

The modern_West generally associates_owls with wisdom and vigilance. This_link_goes back at_least_as_far as_Ancient Greece, where_Athens,_noted for_art_and scholarship, and Athena, Athens' patron_goddess_and the goddess of wisdom, had the_owl as a symbol._Marija_Gimbutas traces veneration of_the owl as a goddess,_among other birds, to the culture_of Old_Europe, long_pre-dating Indo-European cultures.

T. F. Thiselton-Dyer in his Folk-lore of Shakespeare says_that "from the earliest period it_has been considered a_bird of_ill-omen,"_and Pliny tells_us_how, on_one occasion, even Rome itself underwent a_lustration, because_one of them strayed into the_Capitol. He represents it_also_as a funereal bird, a monster_of the night, the very abomination_of human kind. Virgil describes_its_death-howl_from the top of the_temple by night, a circumstance introduced_as a precursor_of Dido's death. Ovid, too, constantly speaks_of_this bird's presence as an evil_omen;_and indeed the same notions respecting_it_may_be found among the writings_of most of the ancient poets."_A list of "omens drear" in John Keats'