We are all familiar with all the hypotheses about the origin of the term “Language of the Birds”. recently I found something interesting. It has to do with the possibility that Delphi priest used carrier pigeons to receive messages from distant lands, messages they would deliver as prophecies before the actual currier would come. So, when it was said that priests were able to “understand the speech of birds” they were more likely reading such messages from little pieces of paper tied to the pigeons feet. The suspicion of Delphi priests using carrier pigeons has been pointed out both by Edgar Chamberlain, and by Robert Temple, and although none of them refers to the term “Language of the Birds”, I immediately made that leap.
Though?
Best,
EE
“Listening” to the birds...
1What’s honeymoon salad? Lettuce alone
Don’t look now, mayonnaise is dressing!
Don’t look now, mayonnaise is dressing!