Red Deer in Folklore and Art
Red deer are widely depicted in cave art found throughout European caves, with some of the artwork dating from as early as 40,000 years ago, during the Upper Paleolithic. Siberian cave art from the Neolithic of 7,000 years ago has abundant depictions of red deer, including what can be described as spiritual artwork, indicating the importance of this mammal to the peoples of that region (Note: these animals were most likely wapiti (C. canadensis) in Siberia, not red deer). Red deer are also often depicted on Pictish stones (circa 550–850 AD), from the early medieval period in Scotland, usually as prey animals for human or animal predators. In medieval hunting the red deer was the most prestigious quarry, especially the mature stag, which in England was called a hart.
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Famous quotes containing the words red, deer, folklore and/or art:
“their red cloaks
wrapped tight to the bone”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“There is a road that turning always
Cuts off the country of Again.
Archers stand there on every side
And as it runs time’s deer is slain,
And lies where it has lain.”
—Edwin Muir (1887–1959)
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—James P. Comer (20th century)
“I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad.
I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:
We’ll no more meet, no more see one another.
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter—
Or rather a disease that’s in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)